Kathmandu, February 6

The Kathmandu District Court today sent Senior Superintendent of Police Shyam Khatri to four days in policy custody.

SSP Khatri was arrested yesterday in connection with the recent smuggling of 33.5 kg gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport.

The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, which had arrested Khatri from the Nepal Police Headquarters, produced him before the district court seeking 25-day remand for him further investigation into the case. SSP Khatri was recalled to the Nepal Police Headquarters from the TIA following the seizure of 33.5 kg smuggled gold on January 5. He was deputy chief of police at the TIA.

Police said suspects arrested in connection with the smuggling implicated SSP Khatri. His phone call details too indicated that he was in regular touch with customs officials, including the prime accused, who was found abetting smugglers for monetary gains.

Earlier, the CIB had arrested TIA customs officials Shree Narayan Yadav and Raj Kumar Dhakal for their involvement in the gold smuggling. It has been learnt that the CIB is preparing to write a letter to the Police Headquarters, seeking his suspension.

SSP Khatri and seven others held in the gold smuggling case might face charges of organised crime. A team of CIB on January 5 had seized the precious metal that had passed undetected through the TIA customs.