KATHMANDU, Aug 21: The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) on Tuesday filed a case at the Lalitpur District Court against 12 people, including Silk Group Chairman Ramesh Sherpa, over the Chinese electronic cigarette (vape) smuggling case. The DRI demanded imprisonment and a fine of nearly Rs 2 billion.
The Silk Group has been operating cargo services with around 100 containers for imports from China. On January 6, DRI seized 86,400 vapes hidden at Silk Group’s warehouse at Sheetal Height, Mahalaxmi Municipality–4. The following day, investigators also confiscated documents and computer devices from Silk Group’s warehouses at Balkumari and Naxal. Based on this evidence, the DRI listed Chairman Sherpa and Silk Group employee Bijay Sherpa as the main accused.
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The DRI also filed charges against warehouse operator Mahesh Prasad Pathak and Silk Group employee Santosh Parajuli as accomplices. Investigators found that Silk Group set up five other companies under its group and sold 38,924 vapes without issuing bills.
According to the DRI, Silk Group and its seven associated firms produced fake purchase documents to show local transactions of 316,315 vapes smuggled through customs points. Chairman Sherpa is currently out of contact.
