MORANG: The High Court in Morang has sentenced Chudamani Upreti, also known as Gore, the main planner behind the 33-kilogram gold smuggling case, to 10 years in prison.
The ruling, delivered on Sunday, pertains to the murder of Sanam Shakya in Urlabari. The High Court in Biratnagar partially overturned the Morang District Court verdict and determined a new sentence.
According to the decision, the principal accused, Gore, received an additional 10-year jail term for charges of abduction and unlawful confinement. The High Court’s joint bench of Judges Mahendra Nath Upadhyay and Prakash Chandra Adhikari had been hearing the case since February 3, 2023.
Earlier, the District Court had handed Gore a life sentence for culpable homicide. Meanwhile, the High Court reduced sentences for some co-accused. Narendra Karki, Mohan Kafle, and Bhojraj Bhandari were sentenced to 10 years each, down from the 20-year terms previously imposed by the district court.
In another decision, the High Court overturned the district court’s ruling for Matiyar Madan Silwal, sentencing him to three years, while Lakpa Sherpa and Bhavin Tamang had their original sentences upheld.
Police officials cleared
In a related case of organized crime and smuggling involving 38 quintals of gold, the High Court ruled there was insufficient evidence against several former police officials and businessmen, confirming their acquittals from the district court. Those cleared include former DIG Govinda Prasad Nirola, then SSP Shyam Bahadur Khatri, Divesh Lohani, DSP Sanjay Bahadur Raut, Prajeet KC, and SI Balkrishna Sanjel.
The 33 kg of gold had been smuggled from Dubai on January 23, 2018, through Tribhuvan International Airport and later went missing. During the investigation, it was revealed that on March 1, 2018, Sanam Shakya of Urlabari–1 was electrocuted to death by the gang, including Gore, while searching for the missing gold.
Police investigations uncovered that the group had smuggled 38 quintals of gold into Nepal between 2018–2019. A special investigation committee led by Secretary Ishwar Raj Paudel filed charges against 77 individuals in connection with the case. The whereabouts of the 33 kg of gold linked to Shakya’s murder remain unknown.
Comment