Chudamani Upreti aka Gore, the alleged mastermind of smuggling 33 kg gold into Nepal, denied his involvement in the murder of Sanam Shakya, the alleged gold carrier who was electrocuted to death.

Upreti told Morang District court on Thursday he had thrashed Shakya while searching the missing cache of gold. Upreti told Judge Narayan Prasad Sharma that he had only beaten Shakya, but had no role in his murder.

The court started recording Upreti’s statements on Wednesday. The court would take few more days to record his complete statement.

A special probe team, led by Home Ministry Joint-secretary Ishwor Poudel arrested Upreti from Gaurighat in Kathmandu on Tuesday morning. He was later brought to Biratnagar and presented to the court.

The District Attorney’s Office (DAO) filed a charge-sheet in the court against 63 suspects in the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the Shakya’s murder.

Twenty-eight suspects, who have been remanded in custody by the court, are in the Regional Prison in Jhumka, Sunsari. Thirty-two other suspects are still at large. The DAO recommended recovering Rs17 billion and an additional fine of Rs18 million from the accused.