Illegal gold case: Revenue Department calls for Police assistance

KATHMANDU, July 24: The Department of Revenue Investigation has requested the Police to help investigate the case of smuggling about 1 quintal of illegal gold.

A senior official of the Revenue Investigation Department told Ratopati that the Department had written to the Police Headquarters asking them for assistance in the investigation.

Following the Department's request, the Police Headquarters has decided to deploy a Superintendent of Police (SP) in the case.

On July 18, a team from the Customs Department seized a 'break pad' containing gold from a taxi driver that was smuggled to Kathmandu through Cathay Pacific Airlines after it came out of the Customs office.16 people including Customs agents, Customs Office employees and a Chinese citizen have already been arrested in this case.

The Department previously formed a team under the leadership of the Director of the Investigation Branch, Man Bahadur Paudel, to investigate the involvement of the Customs Office employees.

Arrestees in the illegal gold case

1. Ram Kumar Bhujel, Dolakha Melung Rural Municipality-3

2. Dilip Bhujel, Dolakha Melung Rural Municipality-3

3. Harka Raj Rai, Bhojpur Arun Rural Municipality-4

4. Thapten Chhiring, an Indian citizen

5. Rajendra Rai, Customs agent (Filled out the notification and took charge of the gold on July 18)

6. Ashok Lama, Taxi driver (Ba.2Cha 2324)

7. Ling Chuwan, Chinese citizen (Arrested on July 20)

8. Rajan Shrestha, Koteshwor

9. Pushkar Raj Bhatta, Trans Global Services Operator

10. Krishna Shrestha

11. Yadav Parajuli, Customs Agent-782 (Arrested on July 23)

12. Sudarshan Gautam, Customs agent

13. Rukmani Subba, Customs agent

14. Santosh Chanda, Customs Official

15. Kumar Dhakal, Inspector (Tribhuwan Airport Customs Office)

16. Saroj Shrestha, Officer (In charge of viewing X-Ray, Tribhuwan Airport Customs Office)