Kathmandu, July 15

Ramesh Upreti, an alleged member of a gold smuggling racket, has been arrested in Dubai, a high-level source in Nepal Police told THT today.

He is the younger brother of Chudamani Upreti aka Gorey, the ‘mastermind’ of the March 2 murder of Sanam Shakya and smuggling of around 3,800 kg gold from Dubai through Tribhuvan International Airport in 421 trips since 2015. Gorey was sent to judicial remand by Morang District Court.

The source told THT that Ramesh was in the custody of Dubai police. “Dubai police has solicited necessary documents and a copy of charge-sheet against Ramesh from Nepal Police for his identification and verification,” the source added. His whereabouts in Dubai was located ‘a few days ago’. An Interpol Red Notice was issued for the arrest of four persons — Ramesh, Mohan Kumar Agrawal, Harisharan Khadka and Benu Shrestha — on June 18.

Ramesh is among 75 persons charge-sheeted at the court. Narbada Kharel (Upreti), Gorey’s wife, is also an accused and has been absconding.

The National Central Bureau had requested the Interpol General Secretariat, France, to issue Red Notice against the absconding accused involved in the murder and gold smuggling. “We are coordinating with Dubai police for official verification of the subject on Interpol Red Notice and his subsequent deportation through diplomatic channel for prosecution in Nepal,” he said.

Remesh had been staying in Dubai for the past four years on the pretext of ‘hotel business’.

Also operating illegal hundi business from Dubai, Ramesh used to smuggle gold into Nepal on behalf of his brother. He was among the suspects ‘most wanted’ by the special probe committee formed to investigate the Shakya murder and disappearance of 33 kg gold smuggled into Nepal from Dubai.

His arrest comes just a day before the tenure of the committee led by Ishwar Raj Paudel, a joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, expires.

Meanwhile, the government is preparing to delegate the power of the committee to the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police in case of non-extension of its tenure.