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 smuggling to be executed Balkumari incident: CPN (US) asks govt to make 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 Lamichhane.

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 businessman.

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.

My life is under threat.

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 Customs Office.

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