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Kiran Bajracharya, head of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police, has also been implicated in the gold smuggling scandal after the investigation by the Commission of Inquiry on Gold Smuggling. The Commission has recommended departmental action against him.
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. 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 the driver, he tore up the paper of his statement about Khanal's involvement and released him and later ran away.
There was already a question within the police about CIB Chief Bajracharya regarding the fact that the driver was detained and given a statement but he tore up the statement that former IGP Khanal of the police was also involved in gold smuggling. What does ? The question is serious,' an officer involved in the investigation said to Kantipur. After taking Khanal's name, the driver, who was suddenly released, then absconded. Home and Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane has prepared to release Bajracharya from the CIB on Friday after the issue of helping the
er to escape has been 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.
Gold Smuggling Commission says - 'Gold will come anyway'
The government has also been questioned because it has recommended action 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 (Maoist and UML) leaders he protected,' a home official said, 'Who are the leaders protected by the CIB chief? ? If clear action is not taken against them, questions will be raised against the Home Minister.'
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 Bajracharya and Kathmandu District Attorney Janak Prasad Ghimire and Vasudev Sharma for negligence in the investigation.
The then opposition UML and RSWP demanded the commission saying that the government protected the gold smuggling network. 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.'
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 agencies in gold smuggling. Sahakul Thapa, Kishorejung Karki and Premraj Joshi were members of the commission, 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.
