Inquiry commission raises question: Maoist and UML leader involved in gold smuggling out of investigation

Action has been recommended against AIG Bajracharya for acquitting former Home Minister and Maoist Vice President Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the then Director General of Immigration Department and former Inspector General of Police and UML leader Sarbendra Khanal. Former IGP Khanal was a candidate from UML in the elections held in Tanahun, the constituency of President Ramchandra Paudel.

A commission of inquiry was formed under the leadership of former judge Dilliraj Acharya after the then opposition UML and RSVP blocked the parliament for a month last July demanding to break the net of powerful officials of political, administrative and security bodies in gold smuggling. But the commission has questioned the police for not taking action against Maoist and UML leaders in gold smuggling.

The commission has found Jhalakram Adhikari, the then director general of the immigration department, to be in direct contact with gold smugglers. Similarly, the commission has recommended departmental action against CIB chief Vajracharya for negligence in the investigation and district attorney Janak Prasad Ghimire and Vasudev Sharma of Kathmandu for making mistakes in the prosecution. Officials of the Nepal Police, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Commission say that even though there have been reports that former Speaker and Maoist Vice President Mahara and former Inspector General of Police and UML leader Khanal are involved in gold smuggling, the CIB has not investigated them.

The then opposition UML and RSWP demanded the commission saying that the government protected the gold smuggling network. The government has also been questioned as action has been recommended against the police officer for not investigating the leaders of the UML and Maoists in the current ruling coalition.

It has been recommended to take action against the CIB chief, the government can take action against the CIB chief, but the challenge has come to the government to investigate the leaders he protected (Maoist and UML). A home official said, who is the leader protected by the CIB chief? If clear action is not taken against them, questions will be raised against the Home Minister. The fact that two sons Jitendra and Dipesh and Jeevan Kumar Gurung, a foreign affairs expert, smuggled gold repeatedly in the 'Protection and Information' of the then Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has been revealed by the Investigation Commission.

The CIB did not investigate Khanal despite getting information that there was a business relationship between the accused of smuggling 61 kg of gold and ex-IGP Khanal. Not only that, the police officials say that after the arrest of Chasane, he tore up the paper of his statement about Khanal's involvement and released him and later Chasane absconded. There was already a question within the police about CIB chief Vajracharya, who arrested the

er and made him give a statement, but he tore up the paper of the statement in which he had given that ex-IGP Khanal was also involved in gold smuggling. do? The question is serious, an officer involved in the investigation told Kantipur. After taking Khanal's name, the driver, who was suddenly released, then absconded. Home and Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane has prepared to release Vajracharya from the CIB on Friday after the matter of helping the

er to escape was mentioned in the report. But the question of how to investigate the Maoist leader Mahara and UML leader Khanal, who were acquitted by the CIB, has become equally important.

Sahakul Thapa, Kishorejung Karki and Premraj Joshi were members of the commission formed on October 15 under the chairmanship of former judge Acharya, which was given a three-month term. After taking more time for two and a half months, the commission prepared the report and submitted it to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane on Thursday. After learning the

report, Lamichhane gave a 'briefing' to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. "The Prime Minister has said to do whatever is necessary," Lamichhane told Kantipur, "The report has pointed out that our agencies made serious mistakes while investigating the issue of gold smuggling." It seems that the evidence has been destroyed.' He said that the names included in the

report and beyond that will be investigated by going to the places to be reached. "I am a person who believes that the report should be made public, but the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers is also a matter," he said. It seems that the way of investigation will be determined by how brutally Jalo and the officers of the Secretariat of the former Vice President are presented. Commission sources say that former IGP Khanal is close to running. When Jeevan ran away, the investigation was not entered into the nexus above him. It is still under investigation as to who protected it. The commission is also silent on this issue,” said the source.

Acharya, chairman of the Commission on Gold Smuggling by the Sons of the Former Vice President, said that during the investigation, there were many other issues that needed to be investigated, but due to lack of time, they could not go into it. "It is necessary to do more work on the issues that have come up in the last few days, we have included this issue in our suggestions," he said. He said that due to lack of time, they could not cover the incident involving the former vice president and his secretariat staff in the gold smuggling case. We were given a mandate to investigate the smuggling of gold, especially electronic cigarettes (Vape) and brake shoes. In addition, we have only looked at the incidents before October 14,' Acharya said, 'we could not enter into other matters.' A video from 4 years ago has been released. On the other hand, Amala Rokka, wife of gold smuggler Dawa Chiring, was out of touch with former Vice President Pun's house. The police have evidence that Dawa Chhiring also had an affair with Juna Magar, the wife of Vice President Pun's eldest son Jitendra. The commission has been seen as 'reluctant' to establish this relationship and take the investigation to the next level.

It was found that some of those who have been given statements/inquiries and documents by the Commission should be re-investigated and prosecuted. It was seen that departmental action should be taken against some policemen and employees,'' Acharya said, 'We have also brought those who were not brought under investigation by the police before. A chaotic situation was seen in the border area. According to the report of the Commission, the main 11 points where gold is smuggled:

Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu)

Rasuwagadhi (Rasuwa)

Tatopani (Sindhupalchok)

Lamabagar (Dolakha) story -break Kakdavitta (Jhapa)

Kimathanga (Sankhuwasabha)

Rani (Morang)

Birgunj/Dry Harbor (Parsa)

Belhia (Rupandehi)

Kalidah (Rupandehi)

Jamunah/Dry Harbor (Banke)