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LUMBINI, March 7: The Revenue Investigation Office, Butwal, under the Department of Revenue Investigation, has filed a case at the High Court, Tulsipur, Butwal Bench, against four individuals for illegally trading electronic cigarettes (vapes) and evading revenue.
The Revenue Office, Butwal, investigated the case and charged four individuals including Suman Parajuli, the proprietor of Diamond International in Kathmandu at the High Court, Tulsipur, Butwal Bench.
According to Bibek Ghimire, Chief of the Revenue Investigation Office, Butwal, investigators discovered that Diamond International used its invoice to sell vapes to Tasnim General Store in Nepalgunj, Banke. They issued 100 invoices for 2,600 vapes and transported them to Nepalgunj using Bhairi Transport Service. Smugglers then moved the vapes to India to sell at higher prices.
Department of Revenue Investigation files cases against three f...
The investigation identified the owners of the purchasing and selling firms as the main defendants. Authorities charged them under Section 3 of the Revenue Leakage (Investigation and Control) Act, 1995, for engaging in prohibited activities. The defendants, Suman Parajuli and Hasimun Jolaha of Tasnim General Store, face charges of revenue leakage amounting to Rs 62, 71,676. Prosecutors have demanded the confiscation of goods under Section 23(1) of the Act, an equivalent fine of Rs 62, 71,676 for each defendant, and the maximum possible imprisonment under Section 23(1) (a).
The case also implicates Roshan Neupane from Diamond International and Sanaulla Ansari from Tasnim General Store, Nepalgunj, as accomplices in the smuggling operation. Authorities accuse them of facilitating the illegal transportation of goods and misusing invoices to evade revenue. Under Section 23(3) of the Act, they face half the punishment and half the fine imposed on the main defendants, amounting to Rs 31, 35,838 each.
Chief Ghimire stated that officials tried multiple times to contact the main defendants, Parajuli and Jolaha, but they remain absconding. Meanwhile, investigators held the accomplices in custody for about 90 days for further investigation.
Illegal trade, smuggling, and transportation of vapes have been rising. As a part of ongoing efforts, the Department of Revenue Investigation has seized over 100,000 vapes from various locations and taken legal action.
