KATHMANDU, AUGUST 23

Business at the House of Representatives resumed today after the government agreed to form a commission to probe gold smuggling cases, including the 100 kg, nine kg and 33 kg gold smuggling cases.

The main opposition CPN-UML had been obstructing parliamentary proceedings for almost a month over formation of a probe commission to investigate the 100 kg gold smuggling case.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka announced this in the HoR meeting today.

DPM Khadka said that the government would form a probe commission on September 22 under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1969, to investigate all gold smuggling incidents in recent months and years. The probe commission will commence its work from September 22 itself.

Minister Khadka said the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police would investigate gold smuggling cases in an independent and impartial manner and bring all those responsible for gold smuggling under the scope of investigation. The probe commission will be given mandate to recommend legal and structural reforms needed to curb gold smuggling. Khadka said the all-party meeting held to reach a deal to end House obstruction reflected the beautiful aspect of democracy where dissension was possible and resolution was possible through dialogue.

CPN-UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai told the HoR that his party trusted all government bodies, including the CIB, but his party became sceptical as CIB's direction of investigation took a U-turn after the name of high profile people surfaced in the Lalita Niwas land grab case, other gold smuggling cases and the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

Chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane condemned the CPN-UML for obstructing House proceedings. He said the House should be a place for raising people's concerns and it should not be stalled.

Lamichhane also blasted the government for not appearing firm on its commitment to good governance. He said the sudden transfer of police personnel involved in investigation of Bhutanese refugee scam reflected the government's poor commitment to good governance. He also blamed the government for giving clean chit to Cabinet decision makers in the Lalita Niwas land grab case. Lamichhane said that one sitting director general had tipped about Dawa Chhiring, (a Belgian citizen arrested in the 100 kg gold smuggling case). Lamichhane said he got this information from patriotic police officers and much could be known about the gold smuggling case if Dawa's call details were provided to the Parliament. Lamichhane also said that one long time working journalist had kept the news about the gold smuggling case under wraps.

CPN-MC lawmaker Devendra Gautam said formation of a commission to probe the gold smuggling case should not adversely impact the CIB's work. He said the government should be mindful that its action did not demoralise the CIB, which has been investigating the gold smuggling case.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.