Crime: Officials of the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi confirmed that a Bhutanese man is detained at Delhi’s district jail in Rohini in connection with smuggling of 17 kilogrammes of gold worth Nu 44.2 million.

A Bhutanese embassy official, who is looking after the counselor service, said that he went to see the suspect on Thursday evening and confirmed that Kinley Dorje, 48, is from Sha Kazhi, Wangduephodrang.

Kinley Dorje told the head of the chancery (HOC), Ugyen Gongphel, that he met an old Chinese man in Jaigaon who advised him to take his goods to New Delhi and to stay there in a hotel room. The man had said that he would join him later in Delhi and promised Kinley Dorje that he would give him Rs 40,000 as a carrier charge.

Kinley Dorje said that he agreed to do so (smuggling)  because of financial reasons. He is a single parent with three children. He also deals in small garment business to support his children.

Ugyen Gongphel said that Kinley Dorje had gone to Phuentsholing and then went to Jaigaon to withdraw INR (Indian rupee) from an ATM using one of his children’s cards.

That is when he met the Chinese man. He claimed that he was caught by six Indian revenue officials, who were waiting with two vans, on his arrival at the New Delhi railway station on June 20. Kinley Dorje, however, refused to share more details.

Kinley Dorje was reportedly found with 17 kilogrammes of gold tied around his waist when he was arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials.

He had travelled to New Delhi from the New Jalpaiguri railway station. According to the Indian news report, DRI officials had been following him the entire trip.

Kinley Dorje had already been presented before a court and was sent to judicial remand until July 4. Embassy’s head of chancery said that Kinley Dorje was told to report before the court after two weeks. He visited Rohini prison to gather details of Kinley Dorje and examine his condition at the jail.

“He has been treated very well,” the chancery head said over the telephone last evening.

By Rinzin Wangchuk