A high-level probe commission formed to investigate the gold smuggling has recommended action against 21 individuals including nine Chinese nationals.

The commission has also recommended action against 12 persons including former Speaker and CPN (Maoist Center) Vice-Chairman Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane submitted the report, presented by the commission on Thursday, to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday.

Commission Chairman Dilliraj Acharya confirmed the involvement of nine Chinese citizens in the gold smuggling.

He said that the weaknesses have also been seen on the part of police in the investigation.

“We have also recommended departmental action against those police personnel who did not carry out their duties seriously,” he said.

A Home Ministry source said that departmental action has been recommended against AIG Kiran Bajracharya, SP Sanjay Singh Thapa, DSP Rugam Kunwar and Durga Dahal.

It has been said that the Home Ministry has directed the Nepal Police headquarters to suspend AIG Bajracharya.

The commission has also recommended action against Mahara, Jeevan Gurung, Jeevan Chalaune, Pranish Pun and Manjil Gurung.

Mahara’s son Rahul has already been arrested and is in police custody.

Similarly, the commission has expressed doubts over the role of Basudev Sharma and Janakraj Ghimire of the public prosecutor’s office.

Chairman Acharya said that departmental action has been recommended against them.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has summoned a Cabinet meeting.

It has been learnt that he called the meeting to discuss the probe commission’s report on gold smuggling.