Nepal Rastriya Dainik

CIAA Files Appeal in Supreme Court Against Special Court Verdict in Excise Sticker Corruption Case

Posted on August 24, 2025August 24, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the special court’s verdict that acquitted former Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and other accused in the excise sticker printing corruption case.

The CIAA claimed that the special court ignored facts and evidence and delivered a flawed judgment, and argued that the accused should be punished according to the charges in the indictment.

On 9 Ashar 2081 BS, the CIAA had filed the case against 12 individuals, including then Chief Secretary Aryal and Finance Ministry Joint Secretary Ritesh Shakya, demanding imprisonment and fines totaling NPR 386,717,640. The indictment also stated that an additional NPR 68,445,600 paid for sticker printing should be recovered individually from the accused.

On 14 Ashoj 2081 BS, the special court acquitted most of the accused while finding the then Executive Director of the Security Printing Press, Bikal Paudel, and Director Safal Shrestha guilty. The CIAA filed the appeal on Sunday against this verdict.

According to the CIAA, the basis and facts cited by the special court for acquittal contradict established evidence and investigation findings. The commission has urged the court to annul the previous verdict and ensure punishment according to the indictment.

Sunil Poudel and Vikal Poudel arrested in security printing press and payment gateway case

Corruption case against Sunil Poudel on charges of accepting bribe of Rs 30 million

Tourism Department Director Sachindra Kumar Yadav Charged with Corruption

Posted on August 14, 2025August 17, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Tourism Department Director Sachindra Kumar Yadav. The CIAA lodged the case at the Special Court on Thursday, accusing Yadav of possessing property worth Rs 9,685,553.19 without a legitimate source of income.

According to CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel, Yadav had kept illegally acquired assets under the name of his wife, Asha Kumari Yadav, while holding public office. The commission has also named Asha Kumari Yadav as a co-defendant under Section 47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002 (2059 BS) and Section 29(kha) of the CIAA Act, 1991 (2048 BS) for the purpose of confiscating the property.

The case stems from a complaint alleging that Yadav accumulated illegal wealth during his tenure as Director. An investigation into his financial records from May 7, 2009 (2066 Jestha 24) to August 14, 2022 (2079 shrawan 29) revealed that he and his immediate family members had earned a total of Rs 26,818,900.72 during the review period.

However, including his expenses and bank balances, Yadav’s total expenditure and investments during the same period amounted to Rs 36,504,453.91. The CIAA concluded that the source of property equivalent to Rs 9,685,553.19 could not be justified, leading to the corruption charges.

Suspended Bagmati Mayor Bharat Thapa Convicted in Corruption Case

Posted on August 7, 2025August 7, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – Suspended Mayor of Bagmati Municipality in Sarlahi, Bharat Kumar Thapa, has been found guilty in an illegal wealth accumulation case.

The Special Court has sentenced Thapa to one year in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 34.5 million. The verdict came in response to a case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Thapa was accused of amassing illegal property worth Rs 53.3 million. The court ruled for a one-year prison term, a fine of Rs 34.5 million (Rs 34,522,387), and confiscation of equivalent property.

Alongside Thapa, the court also convicted Chief Administrative Officer Bimal Kumar Pokharel and Planning Division Chief Engineer Sagar Paudel on corruption charges. However, Shila Kumari Moktan, Bishwaraj Pokharel, and Methur Chaudhary were acquitted.

Court rejects former PM Nepal’s plea for legal representative

Posted on July 29, 2025July 29, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – The Special Court has denied for legal representative on behalf to former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in the corruption case against him.

Former Prime Minister Nepal had filed an application seeking legal representative on his behalf to appear in court, saying he had to travel to various parts of the country for political events, but the Special Court has denied his request, saying the case is subjected to prison sentence of more than three years.

The bench of Special Court members Tej Narayan Singh Rai and Murari Babu Shrestha denied his request. Last month, the Special Court had ordered former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to be released on bail of Rs 3.5 million.

Even if released on bail, he must appear in the Special Court on the date of the case. However, Nepal had sought for legal representative on his behalf to be appeared in court, saying he had to travel to various parts of the country for political activities. If we look at the provisions of Section 89 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 2074, there is no such facility of legal representative for accused in corruption cases.

But Section 95 of the same Act provides for the possibility of seeking the benefit of a legal representative if ‘unforeseen circumstances prevent someone from appearing on the specified date’.

The special court said in its order, ‘It appears that this defendant (Madhav Kumar Nepal) has been charged with an offence punishable by imprisonment for more than three years. Therefore, permission to have a legal representative cannot be granted. Do as per the law.’

On 22 Jestha, 2082, the CIAA had filed a case against former Prime Minister Nepal in the special court, alleging corruption in the decision regarding the permission for the exchange of Patanjali’s land.

In the case filed with a claim of Rs 185.8 million, the special court had applied the legal section that required him to be imprisoned for 8 to 10 years.

Minister Rajkumar Gupta resigns

Posted on July 15, 2025July 17, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – UML MP Rajkumar Gupta, who was involved in the bribery ‘deal’ case, has resigned.

A few days ago, an audio clip of Minister Gupta demanding a bribe was made public. He was also widely opposed after the audio was made public.

Unable to bear the accusations and criticism, Gupta said that he reached the secretariat of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is also the party chairman, today and submitted his resignation.

The audio clip of Minister Gupta demanding a bribe of Rs 7.8 million and accepting some of the money in the end of 2081 Paush was made public only a few days ago.

The audio clip of the then chief of the Kaski Land Revenue Office, Ram Chandra Adhikari, demanding a bribe of Rs 5.3 million to stop a transfer and a bribe of Rs 2.5 million to make UML’s Gandaki Province member Khem Bahadur Pun the chairman of the Land Commission, Kaski, was released.

A complaint has been filed with the Authority, claiming that Gupta took a bribe of Rs 5.3 million, along with two bags containing the bribe money, note numbers and a photo of the bundle of notes.

The opposition parties had demanded his resignation and also demanded action.

CIAA should not yield to anyone’s pressure and influence: President

Posted on February 10, 2025June 17, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu- Addressing a program organized on the occasion of the 34th Foundation Day of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, President Ram Chandra Poudel has said that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority should not yield to anyone’s pressure or influence and work without considering the offense and the offender big or small.

He also said that in a situation where the nature and form of corruption is changing, the investigation and prosecution process should also be modernized and that the attention of all parties concerned should be drawn to the issue as some problems and complaints are being received even if the bills related to corruption are not disposed of for a long time.

He also said that by qualitatively improving the living standards of the citizens, we should work for the interest, welfare and international image of the country by making integrity, impartiality, transparency and fearlessness fulfilling the high aspirations of the people for development and good governance, and since Nepal is also a party to the International Convention on the Control of Corruption, it is necessary to amend our laws and mechanisms in accordance with the provisions mentioned in it.

Corruption case filed against suspended mayor of Nagarjuna Municipality Mohan Bahadur Basnet

Posted on February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu- The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against suspended mayor of Nagarjuna Municipality Mohan Bahadur Basnet on charges of abusing his position to acquire illegal assets worth around Rs 87 million.

CIAA claims that during his term in office he purchased land, constructed and renovated houses, and purchased apartments from the money he received illegally.

The CIAA has called it ‘abuse of public office’, saying that the trend of unnatural income has increased since he became the mayor of Nagarjuna Municipality. The CIAA has also filed a case against his wife Urmila Basnet to seize the assets that were hidden and managed by her.

The CIAA has already filed a corruption case against Nagarjuna Mayor Basnet. The case filed by the CIAA against him for illegally engaging in plotting and misusing municipal resources to benefit from the plotting is pending in a special court.

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