Why ‘High Profile’ Individuals Missed in the 60 kg Gold Smuggling Case?

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police has completed the second phase of its investigation into the 60 kg gold smuggling case.

During this phase, the CIB submitted a 562-page report to the Kathmandu District Public Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday. The investigation has identified 46 defendants, out of whom 20 have been arrested while 26 remain absconding.

However, there is no high-profile individual among the defendants. Despite earlier speculations implicating prominent figures, including Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dipesh Pun, son of former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, the latest findings have excluded any high-profile individuals from the list of defendants.

The CIB informed that after their investigation, they did not find any involvement of high-profile individuals in smuggling, and thus, they were not included as defendants. AIG Shyamalal Gyawali, Chief of CIB, stated during a press conference on Monday that no high-profile person was found to be involved in the 60 kg gold smuggling case.

However, their names are linked in the case of gold smuggling via Vape,” Gyawali said. The smuggling case involving Vape is distinct. The CIB has indicated a claim of 2 trillion 66 billion 67 crores from the defendant.

AIG has also stated that further investigation will proceed in the 60 kg gold smuggling case.

On July 17 last year, 60.716 kg of gold was seized at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), revealing a smuggling operation with a turnover of around Rs 100 billion.

Regarding the investigation into gold smuggling, Gyawali mentioned that 3,194.668 kg of gold had been smuggled, along with electronic appliances, water pumps, smartwatches, and brake pads.

Gyawali clarified that while the smuggling of electronic appliances through fake companies like Bhujel Electric Suppliers Pvt Ltd., Hwada Electric Suppliers Pvt. Ltd., Chhungak Electric Suppliers, Dolakha Electric Suppliers, and Ready Traders Pvt. Ltd. had been established, they had not found any involvement of Mahara and Pun in the 60 kg gold smuggling case.