Gold smuggling scam: High-level probe body to be formed under High Court ex-judge

Kathmandu, Oct 1: An agreement has been reached to form a three-member high-level investigation commission headed by a former judge of the High Court to probe the gold smuggling scandal. This decision was reached following discussions between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and main opposition party CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli held at the former’s official residence at Baluwatar this morning, said Mahesh Bartaula, the CPN (UML) Whip.

“Agreement has been made according to which a meeting of the Council of Ministers will form a three-member investigation commission under the convenorship of a High Court former judge and this decision would be shared to the meeting of the House of Representatives today itself,” the UML Whip said. Some parties, including the UML, had been calling for a high-level probe commission in connection with the gold smuggling scandal.

The government and the political parties on August 23 agreed to constitute such a commission by September 22 and it would start its works from the same day. The commission will be given three months’ time to carry out the investigations. Prime Minister Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is scheduled to address a session of the House of Representatives today and inform it about the formation of the investigation commission.

Prime Minister Dahal and UML Chair Oli had held a meeting today morning before this. The PM had also consulted with the ruling parties on this topic following the meeting with the UML Chair and leader of the main opposition party in parliament. All parties representing in the parliament, except the Rastriya Swatantra Party, attended the discussions today.