Remand of four people to be extended today
KATHMANDU, July 21: The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) has arrested 10 people in connection with the 100 kg gold smuggling case so far. A DRI team arrested three more cargo company operators last night. With this, the number of people arrested has reached 10.
Six of the arrested persons have already been remanded into judicial custody by the Patan High Court for 10 days for investigation. It is said that four people, including the Chinese nationals, who were arrested on Thursday, are scheduled to have their remand extended today.
Two more arrested in connection with 60 kg gold smuggling case
Krishna Kumar Shrestha, the owner of Trans Global Services, was arrested from Koteshwar on Thursday night. Before that, Pushkar Bhatt, owner of Trans Global Services, and Rajan Shrestha, owner of Alice Trans Group, were arrested.
Nawa Raj Dhungana, director general of DRI, said that they were arrested after it was found that the company, under whose name the gold arrived, was actively engaged in importing and exporting goods. Investigations are underway on others involved in the case.
Chinese national Lin Zequiang was arrested on Thursday afternoon. He was arrested from the Tribhuvan International Airport when he was going to China. Those arrested on Wednesday are Ashok Ranamgar, a taxi driver involved in gold smuggling, customs agent Rajendra Kumar Rai, Dilip Bhujel, owner of Ready Trade Pvt Ltd.
The team of the DRI seized nearly 100 kg of gold brought from Hong Kong on Wednesday night after it was cleared by the TIA customs office.
