Feb 09, Kathmandu - The Morang High Court has sentenced Chudamani Upreti, popularly known as 'Gore,' the main mastermind behind the 33-kilogram gold smuggling case, to 10 years in prison.

In a recent ruling, the High Court of Biratnagar partially overturned the verdict of the Morang District Court in the murder case of Sanam Shakya, a resident of Uralbari. The court also handed additional sentences to other accused.

According to the verdict issued on Sunday, Gore has been sentenced to an extra 10 years for charges of kidnapping and unlawful confinement.

The joint bench of Justices Mahendra Nath Upadhyay and Prakash Chandra Adhikari conducted continuous hearings from Magh 20. Previously, the Morang District Court had sentenced Upreti to life imprisonment in a culpable homicide case.

The High Court also reduced the sentences of some defendants initially sentenced to life imprisonment (20 years) by the district court. Narendra Karki, Mohan Kafle, and Bhojraj Bhandari are now sentenced to 10 years each.

In the culpable homicide case, the High Court overturned the district court’s verdict and sentenced Madan Silwal to 3 years in prison. The verdicts for Lakpa Sherpa and Bhabina Tamang remain unchanged from the district court ruling.

Regarding organized crime and customs evasion related to approximately 38 quintals of smuggled gold, the High Court found no substantial evidence against the defendants. The court upheld the acquittals of former police officials and businessmen previously cleared by the district court.

On Magh 9, 2074 BS, over 33.5 kilograms of smuggled gold, flown in from Dubai, was seized at Tribhuvan International Airport before disappearing. During the investigation to locate the gold, Gore and others reportedly murdered Sanam Shakya by electrocuting him on Fagun 18, 2074 BS, in Uralbari-1.