KATHMANDU, JANUARY 31
The owner of Being Human's authorised outlet in Kathmandu, Santosh Chandra Bakhrel, 39, who was arrested a few days ago on the charge of tax evasion and smuggling various liquor brands from India to Nepal was found operating similar other activities.
Being Human is a non-profit foundation established by Bollywood star Salman Khan. When people buy clothes from the outlets of 'Being Human Clothing', some part of the amount goes to child education and Medicare. Salman Khan had supported its establishment in Nepal following the 2015 earthquakes to support children in Nepal.
Bakhrel, who lives in Kapan of Kathmandu, originally hails from Sarlahi district. He had recently transferred the ownership of the outlet to his name.
Some time ago, Metropolitan Police Crime Division, Kathmandu had undertken a secret mission called 'Operation Lima' after receiving a tip-off that international branded liquors were being sold at comparatively cheaper prices in Nepal.
Police had ordered some cartons of the liquors in the guise of customers.
Eventually, the suppliers fell into the police trap. Following his arrest, police found that Bakhrel had illegally imported huge amounts of tobacco products, cosmetic and fancy goods evading the customs duty. Police also confiscated large amounts of pharmaceutical drugs from the godown operated by Bakhrel.
Police said the group was assisted by an Indian citizen named Ravi to smuggle expensive alcoholic beverages and tobacco products in the country from India. Police also suspect that Bakhrel must have illegally imported the liquors inside vehicles that transported Being Human's garment in the country.
"But it is not sure how or when they smuggled the expensive liquors and other products inside the country," said SP Krishna Koirala of MPCD.
Three more accomplices of Bakhrel were also arrested. Among the others arrested in the case are Shailesh Pant, 30, of Manhara, Kageshwari, in Kathmandu, Rabin Pakhrin, 28, of Handigaun in Kathmandu and Narayan Prasad Ghimire, 28, residing in Chabahil, who is a permanent resident of Sarlahi district. They were arrested from different places of Kathmandu valley such as Ramkot, Baneshwor and Kapan area in January 28.
According to police, they have confiscated 296 cartons of smuggled liquor such as Black Label, Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal and other brands worth Rs 15 million. Tobacco products worth Rs five million and other cosmetics and fancy products worth millions were also confiscated.
SP Koirala, however, said the confiscated number was only the tip of the iceberg.
All the arrested have been sent to Revenue Investigation Department, Lalitpur, for further investigation and action.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 1, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
