Court orders 28 gold smuggling suspects to judicial custody
BIRATNAGAR: The Morang District Court on Tuesday has ordered 28 persons, allegedly involved in smuggling 3,800 kilogram gold and murdering co-conspirator Sanam Shakya, to judicial custody.
A single bench of Justice Narayan Prasad Sharma ordered the 28 suspects including five suspended police officers to judicial custody today.
However, suspended SSP Shyam Bahadur Khatri's driver Bishnu Bahadur Khadka was released on 15,000 bail. Similarly, Ambar Bahadur Thapa was also released on bail.
After court order, former DIG Govinda Niraula, SSP Divesh Lohani, SP Bikash Raj Khanal, DSP Sanday Raut, Prajit KC, Sub-Inspector Bal Krishna Sanjal were sent to judicial custody.
Likewise, Thai Airways and Nepal Airlines employees, Gopal Kumar Shrestha, Birendra Man Shrestha, Sambir Prasad Tolange, Punya Prasad Lama, Doram Khatri, Bal Krishan Shrestha, Lal Bahadur Magar, Hemanta Gautam, Tula Ram Tharu, Rajendra Kumar Shakya, Kapil Raj Puri, Raju Maharjan, Raju Thapa, Amarman Dangol were also sent to the judicial custody.
Gold investor Bhujung Gurung, Chudamani Upreti aka Gorey's accomplices Tek Raj Malla Thakur, Narendra Karki aka Krishna, Mohan Kafle, Lakpa Sherpa, Madan Prasad Ghimire, Rajan Kumar, Mahabir Prasad Golyan were sent to judicial custody, informed the court official Kedar Prasad Gautam.
Chudamani Upreti aka Gorey, the alleged mastermind behind the gold smuggling and murder of gold carrier Sanam Shakya, who was arrested in Kathmandu this morning, was presented before the Morang District Court in Biratnagar Metropolitan City, today itself, and kept at the District Police Office.
It has been learned that the court would start recording Gorey's statement from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, 32 other suspects are still at large.
Earlier, police had filed a charge sheet — against 63 persons, accusing them in murder of gold carrier Sanam Shakya, gold smuggling, forming criminal group, organised crime, abduction and taking hostage — at the Morang District Court.
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