60 kg gold smuggling case: Supreme Court seeks quashing order of four arrested

. Four defendants in the 60 kg gold smuggling case have moved the Supreme Court (SC) seeking quashing of the District and High Court’s orders.

They are: Indian nationals Baijanath Brahma Dutt Goyal, Manoj Raj Shrestha and Chinese national Kunga Tashi Sherpa (Genga Shashi), Ming Sing Terence C.TAG_OPEN_p_13

The four had appealed to the High Court after the Kathmandu District Court remanded them in custody for further investigation.TAG_OPEN_p_12 They have reached the Supreme Court after the Patan High Court upheld the order of the district court.

A division bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokhrel is hearing the writ petitions filed by the Supreme Court.TAG_OPEN_p_11

The second phase of investigation by the CIB played a key role in arresting them.TAG_OPEN_p_10 According to the investigation, an attempt was made to smuggle gold from China inside the brakes of the scooter.

Chinese citizen Genga Shashi (Kunga Tashi Sherpa) seems to have taken Nepali citizenship. A driving license was also issued in the same name. His father’s name is written as Ang Norbu Sherpa in his driver’s license.

The CIB had arrested another Chinese national, Sherab Gyalmo, with 6 kg of gold and Rs 4.8 million from Bouddha Tinchuli.TAG_OPEN_p_8 He was also found to be of Nepali citizenship. Likewise, the citizenship certificate issued in the name of Sonam Gurung was issued from Lomanthang of Mustang.

This case has exposed the involvement of the defendants in the smuggling of gold through the Sino-Nepal border and has highlighted the need for heightened security and due process of law.TAG_OPEN_p_7