INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MARCH 15The high-level probe commission has found an egregious error the Central Investigation Bureau
committed egregious errors while investigating 60
716 kg of gold smuggled from Hong Kong
The yellow metal was concealed inside the brake shoes of motorbikes and scooters.
Probe commission's report on gold
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report of probe commission public
Similar
negligence was found in the investigation of gold smuggling from Dubai
This time, the was hidden in the electronic cigarettes.The inquiry commission, led by former High Court judge Dilli Raj Acharya concluded to
this effect along with recommendations for departmental actions against officials including Additional Inspector General Kiran Bajracharya,
chief of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and former director general of the Department of Immigration Jhalakram Adhikari.
Yesterday, the probe commission handed over the 485-page investigation report to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) had probed both the 60 kg of gold smuggling case involving gold hidden inside electronic
cigarettes.On July 19, the Department of Revenue Investigation seized gold being smuggled into Kathmandu by 'Ready Trade Pvt Ltd' and which
was concealed inside brake shoes of motorcycles and scooters at Tribhuvan International Airport
Based on a letter from the Tribhuvan Airport Customs Office, the CIB investigated the gold brought to Kathmandu on January 26, 2023 and
hidden in electronic cigarettes.However, during the investigation, Bureau Chief AIG Kiran Bajracharya, SP Sanjay Singh Thapa, and DSPs Rugam
Kunwar and Durga Dahal committed serious 'errors'
The Commission recommended departmental action against all four officials, including Bajracharya.The commission concluded that CIB officials
protected those connected to Dawa Tshering, a Belgian citizen of Tibetan origin who was involved in the smuggling of 60 kilograms of gold
Dawa is also the owner of the Hotel Vienna in Thamel
It is legally registered under the Dawa's spouse name, Amala Roka.After discovering a connection with Dawa, the police summoned Jeevan
Chalaune to the CIB in Maharajgunj for questioning
CIB officials released him after recording his statement
However, it has been discovered that CIB officials destroyed Chalaune's statement paper.Chalaune, on the other hand, told the probe
commission that he gave the CIB a four-hour long statement and left all documents in his possession with them.Chalaune is a fugitive
SP Sanjay Singh Thapa had taken a statement from Chalaune, along with Dawa Tsering
However, the Gold Probe Commission reported that the Chalaune's statement could not be found.In addition, when preparing and submitting the
charge sheet to the district attorney's office, the CIB made no mention of Chalaune, including his statement and evidence.Chalaune, who was
accused of involvement in the gold smuggling case, has stated that he will surrender soon
Chalaune stated in a video interview with Onlinekhabar.com that he is currently in Delhi and would surrender to the court soon."I will
appear soon and surrender to the court
I am someone who wants to do something in my home country, such as start an industry or conduct business
Earlier, I was scared and fled when I learned that I was going to be arrested in a drug smuggling case
However, I will now surrender," he said.Similarly, the probe commission has recommended that seven more people be prosecuted
Their statements were taken but not arrested.Former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has also been recommended for prosecution
The commission concluded that he should be registered as a defendant in the vape case
Mahara's son, Rahul, is still in jail in the same case
In the vape case, the CIB charged Rahul with organised smuggling.Likewise, the Commission has recommended departmental action against 10
senior government officials
The commission concluded that government officials made serious errors while investigating and prosecuting people accused of gold
smuggling.Departmental action has been recommended against Kiran Bajracharya
Departmental Actions have been recommended against joint secretaries Jhalakram Adhikari and Arun Pokharel
Adhikari is currently working in the office of Nepal Trust
Assistant Secretary Adhikari appears to have a connection with Dawa Tsering.Arun Poudel is the former customs administrator at the Airport
Deputy Secretary of Airport Customs Sridhar Tondon, also the Chief Customs Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office and
Director of the Customs Department Mukti Shrestha have also been added to the list for departmental action
The commission stated that their negligence was apparent during the investigation of gold smuggled from Dubai in electronic
cigarettes.Additionally, departmental action has also been recommended against two deputy attorneys general of the District Attorney's
Office.The commission was formed on October 2 after the then-major opposition party, the CPN-UML, repeatedly stalled the Lower House
proceedings, demanding the formation of a high-level probe commission to investigate the gold smuggling case
Recently, UML backed the government led by CPN-MC chair and Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com