Search warrants against the Royal Casino

Kathmandu, Feb 10 -The Supreme Court on thrusday issued search warrants against the Royal Casino on the suspicion that a gambler, Suresh Tripathi, who won lakhs on December 30, has been in the casino’s custody since then.

After a division bench of the SC, Justices Sharada Prasad Pundit and Badri Kumar Basnet, issued the search warrant, under secretary Bishnu Prasad Koirala and section officer Beda Prasad Timalsina searched the casino premises with the help of cops, but could not find Tripathi. Following the search, Timalsina said, “We will produce the report before the bench citing the versions of the casino on the issue.” According to him the security officials at the casino claimed that they have no knowledge on the issue and had not held anyone hostage.

This is the first time the SC has issued a search warrant against a casino. Advocate Bhupendra Pokhrel, who has filed a habeas corpus petition seeking a search warrant against the casino, claimed he had reliable information that Tripathi was held hostage after he won Rs 8 lakh playing baccarat on December 30.

“We won Rs 8 lakh at the Royal Casino and went to Everest Casino,” Tripathi’s friend Ramesh Kharel claimed. He said, Tripathi, Yuba Raj Gurung and he gambled at the Everest Casino and won Rs 8 lakh again. “After that the Everest Casino staff took us to the backroom, from where we were sent to Royal Casino. The two of us were freed after two days, but not Tripathi. He has been missing since then. We think he might be in casino’s custody”, Kharel added.