Biratnagar, December 6

Biratnagar High Court today ordered the release of suspended Nepal Police Sub-inspector Balkrishna Sanjel, one of the accused in a high-profile gold smuggling case, on normal date.

After his alleged involvement in the high profile smuggling of 38 quintal gold came to light in the course of the probe into the murder of Sanam Shakya of Urlabari, Morang, police had filed a charge-sheet against him and scores of others. He had been sent to justice custody following preliminary hearing at Morang District Court.

According to the High Court Registrar Narayan Regmi, a joint bench of High Court judges Thir Bahadur Karki and Janak Pande had ordered Sanjel released on normal date stating that the district court’s order to keep him in judicial custody until the final trial was out of keeping with due procedure.

Following the May 22 order of Morang district court of to keep him in judicial custody, Sanjel had filed an appeal at Biratnagar High Court on July 22 seeking revocation of the district court’s order.

Further, Regmi informed that the court also asked that the file of another accused Rajendra Kumar Shakya, aka RK be produced today itself.

Earlier, other persons accused in the gold smuggling case, namely  former Nepali Police DIG Govind Niraula, SSP Diwesh Lohani, SP Bikashraj Khanal and DSP Prajit KC were also released following the court’s order.