Kathmandu, June 8:

The Supreme Court today upheld the Hetauda Appellate Court and the Chitwan National Park decision to detain rhino poaching kingpin Tasi Gurung.

Gurung was facing the charge of involvement in poaching nine rhinos and has been in detention for four years.

The Supreme Court bench today directed the authorities to keep Gurung in detention and proceed the case because there is no ground to reverse the order as Gurung had already admitted that he had committed the crime before the investigation authority (police).

The Chitwan National Park had issued the detention order, which the Hetauda Appellate Court had upheld.

Gurung’s accomplices Hari Bahadur Bishwokarma, Hari Babu Silwal and ex-pilot Ramesh Chandra Pokhrel have been facing the charges.

Although Gurung denied the charges in front of the court, he admitted to the crimes before the police during interrogation and a co-accused Bishwokarma had said Gurung was the kingpin of the poaching racket, deputy government attorney Ramesh Sharma Paudel said.

As per Gurung and Bishwokarma’s statements, there is no need for the apex court to intervene in the case, Poudel said.