Bajeko Sekuwa Outlets Sealed in Kathmandu | Gold Smuggling Case. Image Source: Lexlimbu

Bajeko Sekuwa Outlets Sealed in Kathmandu | Gold Smuggling Case

Bajeko Sekuwa Outlets sealed in Kathmandu. One of the popular restaurant chain Bajeko Sekuwa was raided by a special investigation committee probing the 33kg gold scam. Bajeko Sekuwa Outlets were sealed in Kathmandu on 13th of June 2018 (Wednesday) as part of the investigation into a gold smuggling racket.

Owner of the Bajeko Sekuwa franchise, Chetan Bhandari is being questioned at the Morang District Court for his alleged connection with Chudamani Upreti aka Gore, the mastermind behind the 33kg gold smuggling case.

There are altogether 10 outlets of the restaurant chain in the country and five of the Bajeko Sekuwa outlets are owned by Chetan Bhandari. With permission from the Morang District Court, teams were dispatched to seal all the Sekuwa branches. Bajeko Sekuewa outlets sealed in Kathmandu include those located at Anamnagar, Sorhakhutte, Samakhushi, Battisputali, Kamalpokhari, and Gairidhara, according to officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Poudel added that they were reviewing to see if Bhandari owns other outlets too. Bank accounts, shares, and movable and immovable properties of Bhandari were frozen after a case was filed against him in the court. DSP Nishan Thapa of the Morang District Police said that properties of Bhandari, as well as 62 other accused, were frozen when the case was filed against them. “The search for Bhandari and 30 others has been intensified,” he added.

The special investigation committee also raided the house of Mohan Agrawal (Anamnagar) and Raj Jewellery Store (Durbar Marg). Agrawal is believed to have funded the smuggling of the 33 kg gold. During the invasion at Agrawal’s house, police recovered more than NPR. 2 million in cash, gold biscuits, and a jacket specially designed to smuggle the yellow metal. The home ministry probe committee seized gold jewelry worth NPR. 230 million at Raj Jewellery Store owned by Rajendra Shakya – one of the accused in the 33kg gold smuggling case.

 

Reference: Himalayan Times