The trial on 33 kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of alleged smuggler Sanam Shakya has continued at Morang District Court, in Biratnagar on Friday.

Until Thursday, 42 lawyers of the defendants have presented their argument before the court with 24 other advocates who are yet to defend the case on behalf of the accused.

According to a source, the government attorneys, after the completion of hearing from the defence lawyers, will respond to the arguments presented by the lawyers of the suspects.

The government lawyers are planning to respond to the defence lawyers’ arguments along with strong evidences as most of the arguments presented by the plaintiff’s side have been rebutted by the lawyers on the opposite side. Without strong evidence to back the government attorneys’ arguments the suspects are likely to be released on date or bail.

The District Attorney’s Office, Morang, has filed a chargesheet against 63 people in connection to the gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of Sanam Shakya.

The DA has recommended recovery of Rs 17 billion and an additional fine of Rs 18 million from the accused on the charges of organised crime, hostage-taking and murder.

Police have arrested 30 of the 63 accused so far; among the arrestees are senior police officers and the staff of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

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