Attempts being made to influence gold smuggling probe: Dahal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed concerns over ongoing attempts to influence the investigation into the gold smuggling case.

During a meeting with editors from various news media at his official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday, Dahal said concerted efforts to influence the ongoing investigation suggest the involvement of influential individuals in the smuggling network. “The nature of these efforts indicates the potential involvement of high-ranking government officials, political leaders, and members of the police force in the smuggling activity. It appears that certain individuals outside the government are making efforts to obstruct the ongoing investigation,” Dahal said in the meeting.

Dahal said that the government decided to transfer the case to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police in light of the apparent engagement of influential figures in the smuggling operation.

He also said that the government intends to initiate an investigation into the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate scam like the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab and the Bhutanese refugee scams.