The Biratnagar High Court has ordered the release of suspended Superintendent of Police Bikash Raj Khanal, one of the suspects in the 33kg gold smuggling case and the murder of carrier Sanam Shakya, on general date.

 A division bench of Judges Nagendralabh Karna and Thir Bahadur Karki on Tuesday ordered Khanal’s release.

The High Court overturned the Morang District Court’s ruling of taking Khanal into judicial custody.

The High Court had ordered the release of two other accused police officers SSP Dibesh Lohani and DSP Prajit KC on Friday and Sunday respectively.

The Morang District Attorney’s Office had lodged a number of cases related to murder, organised crime, abduction and hostage taking, against 63 suspects including Lohani, KC and Adhikari.

The 33kg gold smuggled through the Tribhuvan International Airport had mysteriously disappeared from Kathmandu. The smuggling case drew much public attention following the murder of Shakya, a resident of Urlabari in Morang, on March 2.