The Kathmandu District Court on Monday remanded Nepal Police SSP Shyam Khatri to judicial custody for four days in connection with his alleged involvement in gold smuggling via Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police today produced SSP Khatri before the Kathmandu District Court seeking a judicial remand for further investigation.

SSP Khatri was apprehended from Nepal Police Headquarters, Naxal, Kathmandu on Sunday for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of 33-kg gold. He has been detained at Maharajgunj-based CIB office following his arrest.

The CIB arrested Khatri based on the statements recorded from other suspects held in the case.

Earlier, the CIB had arrested TIA customs officials Shree Narayan Yadav and Raj Kumar Dhakal for their involvement in the gold smuggling.

Later on January 18, Nepal Police had summoned SSP Khatri, who was stationed at the TIA, to the Police Headquarters to inquire about the case.

It has been learnt that the CIB is preparing to write a letter to the Police Headquarters, seeking his suspension.

SSP Khatri and seven others held in the gold smuggling case might face charges of organised crime.

A team of CIB on January 5 had seized the precious metal that had passed undetected through the TIA customs.

The CIB team had nabbed Gopal Bahadur Shahi, who had boarded an Air Arabia flight from the UAE. Shahi was caught after he had made his way out of the airport.