The high-level probe commission, established by the government in October last year to investigate the 61 kg gold smuggling case, has submitted its report after five months of investigation.

Led by former high court judge Dilli Raj Acharya, the three-member commission presented its findings to Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on Thursday morning.

The commission’s report of the 61 kg gold case and the smuggling of gold concealed in vape, sheds light on the intricate web of illicit activities surrounding the incident.

Originally given a three-month timeframe, the commission’s mandate was extended twice, with the latest extension granted during a Cabinet meeting on February 26, pushing the deadline to mid-March.

During its investigation, the commission took statements from various individuals, including vice chairman of CPN (Maoist Center) Krishna Bahadur Mahara and several businessmen allegedly involved in the gold smuggling scheme.

Mahara, who was interrogated by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police in connection with a separate 9 kg gold smuggling case involving gold concealed in vape, has not faced formal charges. However, his family’s connections to individuals implicated in the smuggling have come under scrutiny, with his son Rahul currently in custody pending trial.

Furthermore, the commission’s inquiry uncovered links between former director general of the immigration department of Tribhuvan International Airport, Jhalakram Adhikari, and the 61 kg gold smuggling case.

Despite the smuggling incident occurring on July 18 the previous year, gold smuggling through the airport continues unabated. In a separate incident on November 30, Chandra Ghale of Gorkha was apprehended by customs officials at the airport with 14 kg of gold, prompting further investigations into individuals such as Ankit Agarwal, Rajendra Basnet, Bimal Poddar, Raj Kamar Bharti, and Jeewan Gurung, all allegedly involved in the smuggling operation.