Kathmandu, June 20

The special probe committee led by Ishwor Raj Paudel, joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, formed to investigate the March 2 murder of Sanam Shakya and disappearance of 33-kg smuggled gold, has arrested Bimal Poddar for his alleged involvement in smuggling and illegal hundi business.

A MoHA source told THT that the Indian national, who runs housing business, was held from Dillibazar last night. “The probe committee has launched an all-out investigation to establish his involvement in gold smuggling and hundi business. Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa had claimed that gold smuggling and hundi business were correlated,” the source said, adding that Poddar is a business partner of businessman Deepak Malhotra.

The source said Poddar was arrested on the basis of the statement given by some persons held and charged in connection with gold smuggling. “The probe panel was tipped that Poddar was involved in smuggling of contraband, as well as hundi business, and was serving top police officials,” he alleged.

Earlier, Morang District Police had filed a charge-sheet against 63 persons, including former and current police officials, traders and alleged smugglers among others, at the district court through the district attorney’s office.

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