Biratnagar, May 7

Of the 30 persons so far arrested and charge-sheeted in connection with the smuggling of 33 kg gold and a related murder, Morang District Court has finished recording the statements of 27 of the accused.

Earlier, District Government Attorney Office, Morang, on Wednesday, had filed organised crime, smuggling, hostage taking and murder cases against 63 persons, including seven incumbent policemen.

Of the 60-plus persons, 33, including SSP Shyam Bahadur Khatri and the main accused Chudamani Upreti, alias Gore, are still absconding. According to court registrar Nawaraj Dulal, statements of DSPs Sanjaya Raut and Prajit KC, and SSP Dibesh Lohani are yet to be recorded. “Though Raut’s statement was also recorded today, he will again be produced tomorrow,” said Dulal.

Today, SP Bikasraj Khanal, Sub-inspector Balkrishna Sanjel, Head Constable Ambar Bahadur Thapa Magar and former DIG Govind Niraula got their statements recorded. Besides, statement recording of Rajan Thapa, Punya Prasad Tamang, Gopal Kumar Shrestha, Hemanta Gautam, Raju Maharjan, Amarman Dangol, Tularam Tharu and Bishnu Bahadur Khadka was completed today itself.

The charge-sheet has claimed that Gore and his group had managed to smuggle nearly 38 quintals of yellow metal worth over 17 billion rupees since 2015, under the protection of police.

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