Biratnagar, July 2

A judge who had freed high-profile individuals implicated in the smuggling of 33 kg gold, a case, which was linked to the murder of Sanam Shakya of Morang, has lost his job.

Following a recommendation of a meeting of the Judicial Council held yesterday, then judge of Biratnagar High Court Umesh Kumar Singh has been sacked from his post for issuing orders releasing high profile police officials and traders on general date.

A host of high profile persons including traders Prabhat Agrawal and Raj Kumar Daruka, main accused Chudamani Upreti's so-called assistant Ram Kumar Tiwari and Madan Prasad Ghimire had walked out of prison after posting bail, following the order of a joint bench of Singh and other judges in the past.

In the wake of the controversial decision, Singh, besides then chief judge Kulratna Bhurtel and judges Nagendralabh Karna, Saranga Subedi, Thir Bahadur Karki, Sadhuram Sapkota and Umeshraj Poudel had been recalled to the judicial council. Other judges, except Karki, Sapkota and Singh, had got clearance earlier.

“As for the two other judges, the council has decided to caution them,” said under-secretary Teknath Gautam of the council.