His arrest not linked to the gold smuggling racket, say police
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 12
Rohan Adukia, who was apprehended yesterday upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from New Delhi, was released today after police confirmed that his arrest was not related to the ongoing investigation into the 100-kg gold smuggling racket or any other police-related inquiries.
Rohan is the son of businessman Rakesh Kumar Adukia, whose residence was raided by the authorities in connection with the 100-kg gold scam. Additionally, Rohan had been flagged as a person of interest by the Department of Immigration at the request of the Department of Revenue Investigation in relation to the gold smuggling racket.
Yesterday, the Department of Revenue Investigation refused to retain custody of Rohan as the Central Investigation Bureau had overtaken jurisdiction in the case.
Likewise, the CIB also chose not to detain him, citing insufficient evidence of his involvement in the gold smuggling racket. Consequently, the Department of Immigration held Rohan in custody following his arrest yesterday afternoon and released him today.
Meanwhile, police clarified that Rohan's apprehension by the DoI is related to an issue that has to do with revenue embezzlement.
"Rohan Adukia's arrest is not related to any offences under police jurisdiction. Therefore, his connection to the 100-kg gold smuggling case is out of question," said DIG Kuber Kadayat, spokesperson of Nepal Police.
Similarly, two Chinese nationals, Li Jialin and Liu Fuyan, who were arrested yesterday morning at the airport while attempting to depart for China, have been released. These two individuals were included in the blacklist of the Department of Immigration at the behest of the Department of Revenue Investigation.
DIG Kadayat said the involvement of two Chinese nationals was not immediately connected to the ongoing investigation, leading to their release. "However, they have been restricted from leaving the country and must cooperate with the police," he added.
Nearly two dozen individuals have been detained in connection with the racket involving the illicit transportation of approximately 100 kg gold through the customs at TIA on July 18. The gold was surreptitiously concealed in the consignment of motorcycle brake components and men's grooming devices with gross weight of 155 kilograms.
Authorities remain uncertain about the true ownership of the gold as those who have been apprehended are believed to be intermediaries and couriers in the operation.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
