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.

Minister Adhikari claims audio leak as a character assassination

Posted on July 18, 2025July 18, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

KATHMANDU- Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Balram Adhikari, has claimed he has no involvement in the recently surfaced audio controversy, calling it as a conspiracy to assassinate his character.

During a press conference held at the ministry he said he is ready to face any punishment if proven guilty.

He claimed that it is a clear attempt of character assassination. “Those who failed to fulfill their personal interests have resorted to such tactics,” he said. He claimed some individuals tried to pressure him regarding the transfer of a government official, and after he refused, the audio was made public. He stressed that,” i have no involvement with the leaked audio clip and there is not even a single bit of my voice on it.”

However, Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta, who was involved in the same case, resigned soon after the audio clip was made public.

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.

Government preparing to remove Minister Gupta

Posted on July 13, 2025July 13, 2025 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – Preparations are underway to remove Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta after an audio clip claiming he had made a bribe deal went public.

According to a high-ranking source, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will return to Kathmandu and take a decision on the matter. ‘This happened while the Prime Minister was in the East, preparations are underway to take a decision on this after he returns,’ the source said.

According to the source, a decision will be made to make Minister Gupta resign or dismiss him. ‘He is being asked to resign. That is the best option,’ the source said, ‘otherwise, a decision will have to be made to dismiss him.’

In the audio clip that has been made public, Minister Gupta has also accused another minister, Balram Adhikari, of taking a bribe. However, there is a possibility that no decision will be taken immediately on the basis of the same allegation against Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Adhikari.

‘First of all, Minister Gupta’s statement is yet to be confirmed. Now, just because he said so, action should not be taken against another minister immediately,’ the source said.

According to the audio that has been made public, there has been a conversation between the middleman and Minister Gupta regarding the appointment of the District Chairman of the Land Commission, Kaski. It is heard that a bribe was dealt in the appointment of the Land Commission Chairman.

However, the person named in the audio was not appointed as the District Chairman of the Commission. It is understood that the name proposed by the middleman could not be successful due to the leaders of the UML District and Provincial Committees.

Based on the audio, a deal has been made not only in the political appointment of the District Chairman of the Land Commission, but also in the transfer of the Chief of the Land Revenue Office, Kaski. A bribe of Rs 5.3 million was dealt in the transfer of the Chief of the Land Revenue Office.

Former Minister Basnet ordered to be released on bail of Rs 2.5 million

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

Kathmandu — The Special Court has ordered the release of former Communications Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet, who is involved in the Terramax corruption case. The bench of Special Court Judges Tej Narayan Singh Rai, Ram Bahadur Thapa and Bidur Koirala ordered the release of Basnet on bail of Rs 2.5 million on Sunday.

Suspended Congress MP Basnet appeared in court today for a statement in the corruption case. The court ordered his release on bail after his statement and detention. He is facing a corruption case in the Terramax technology procurement case of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a corruption case against Basnet and former Law Secretary Dhanraj Gyawali, along with 16 individuals and two companies, in the Terramax technology equipment procurement scam for the authority.

Authority filed corruption case against 1520 people in 1 year: 8.5 billion claim

Posted on July 10, 2024July 12, 2024 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu – The Abuse of Authority Investigation Commission has filed corruption cases against 1,520 people in 1 year. The Authority has filed a corruption case in a special court against the Minister/MP of the Provincial Government, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, the Secretary, the Head/Deputy Head of the local level, businessmen/intermediaries, and others in the accusation of abuse of public office, damage to government property and acquisition of illegal assets.

According to Narahari Ghimire, the spokesperson of the authority, about 8.5 billion 45 million rupees have been claimed from the defendants. Spokesman Ghimire said that during this period, the Authority filed 211 indictments in the special court.

According to the indictment filed by the Authority in the special court, among the defendants there are 100 people’s representatives, including provincial government ministers/MPs, heads of municipalities and rural villages, deputy heads, and ward presidents. Similarly, there are 181 government officials.

16 mayors, 11 deputy mayors, 7 village presidents, 8 vice presidents, 42 ward presidents, 7 members of the executive committee and 7 ward members of the municipality have been charged with corruption.

Similarly, the chief secretary of Nepal government, Baikunth Aryal and secretary Madhu Marasini, from high-ranking employees to the procurement level, have also become defendants in the corruption case. Out of the corruption cases filed, 40 people were arrested with bribes. Out of which there are 29 employees.

According to the records of the authority, during this period, 12 people of special category including the chief secretary, 25 people of the joint secretary level, 72 people of the deputy secretary level, 167 people of the branch officer level, 54 accountants, 144 people of the NASU level, 31 people of the procurement level and 2 office assistants and 520 national service employees has been filed against.

Some public representatives and employees who were made defendants have also been acquitted in a special court. However, most of the cases are currently pending in the special court.

After the suspension of both the head and deputy head of the same municipality on charges of damage to public property and illegal acquisition of wealth, political and administrative work has also been hindered since the last time the budget was brought.

According to the authority, the Mayor Ajay Prakash and Deputy Mayor Rita Devi of Rautahat’s Katharia Municipality have been suspended after a case of illegal damage was filed against them. Sarlahi Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa and Deputy Mayor Leelakumari Moktan, Sarlahi District Coordination Committee Chief Methur Chaudhary, Sirha Navrajpur Rural Municipality Bishwamohan Prasad and Vice President Shobhakumari Yadav, Sirha Mayor Gajendra Maharjan and Lalitpur Godawari Municipality Deputy Mayor Muna Adhikari, Mahottari Jaleshwar Municipality Mayor Suresh Sah Sonar and Deputy Mayor Roshan Khatun, Chairman of Chankheli Rural Municipality of Humla, Dhanlal Chaulagai are currently under suspension after corruption cases.

In the case of corruption cases, most of them have been accused of abusing their public positions and making irregularities in purchases, abusing their positions and amassing illegal wealth. People’s representatives have become defendants in crimes such as exploitation of river products and selling them at low prices, damage to public property, irregularities in the construction of roads and other infrastructures, especially in local level corruption. Only a few weeks ago, a case was filed against Chief Secretary Baikunth Aryal in a special court on charges of corruption in the purchase of alcohol stickers. Aryal is under suspension with the filing of the case.

President Paudel calls for political resolution to curb corruption

Posted on February 12, 2024February 20, 2024 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

KATHMANDU- President Ram Chandra Paudel has called for political resolution to curb corruption.

Addressing a program organized on the occasion of the 33rd establishment day of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Sunday, President Paudel said that corruption and corrupt attitudes are hurdles to a nation’s development and progress. He added that corruption and a corrupt mentality have eroded moral values, weakening the foundation of the nation.

“The level of transparency and accountability of the government will have a role in the prevention of corruption. The more transparency and a sense of accountability in the governance, there are higher possibilities of corruption control,” said President Paudel. He drew the attention of all public entities to maintain transparency in each of their actions and decisions.Similarly, he urged the CIAA to ensure impartiality in its investigations and subsequent prosecutions.

Considering good governance as the lifeline of democracy, he expressed his belief that achieving economic prosperity and social justice is essential for preventing corruption. He urged the CIAA to address the public’s interest, ensuring that high-profile individuals are not exempt from accountability for abuse of authority and corruption.

RSS

Corruption in sanitary pads:Case against 5 people in special court

Posted on January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

Kathmandu- The Abuse of Authority Investigation Commission has filed a case against 5 people on the charge of corruption in the program of distributing free pads to female students of public schools.

A case has been filed in a special court against the then Chief Administrative Officer Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Accounts Officer Shyam Sundar Yadav, teacher Shyam Prasad Yadav, Naib Subba Sujan Dahal and the proprietor of Shree Lakshmi Traders and Suppliers Lalita Kumari Shah.

In the financial year 2077/078, the rural municipality purchased sanitary pads worth Rs.17,85,928/- to be distributed free of cost to the girl students of public schools. According to the authority, according to the Public Procurement Act and regulations, the cost estimate had to be prepared based on prevailing prices. But the then Chief Administrative Officer Chaudhary and others colluded with Lalita kumari of Sri Lakshmi Traders bought sanitary pads worth 9 lakh 11 thousand 925 rupees for 17 lakh 85 thousand 928 rupees.

According to sub-section (1) of section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059, four employees including the then chief administrative officer Chaudhary have been ordered to be imprisoned and fined Rs.874,003.

In the charge sheet filed in the special court in Kathmandu, Lalitha kumari of Lakshmi Traders has also been asked to be punished like the main culprits and charged with the crime, Narahari Ghimire, spokesperson of the Authority, informed.

UML’s demand to investigate the scandal of the Maoist militant camp

Posted on May 13, 2023May 14, 2023 by नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दैनिक

The CPN-UML Central Committee meeting has demanded an investigation into the scam in the name of Maoist militant and other corruption issues.

CPN-UML has demanded an impartial investigation of all the scandals that have come to the fore including the combatant camp scam scandal, saying that the corruption and irregularity in the Nepalese society remain as contagious diseases and due to the fact that such incidents are not impartially investigated and the culprits are not brought to justice, the democratic system, political leadership and parties themselves are being questioned, . The party has said that it will fully cooperate in the investigation of all the incidents.

Saying that the case of fake Bhutanese refugees raises serious questions about the reputation of the country, it has demanded that the case be investigated impartially without any political bias or pressure and prosecute the culprits. The CPN-UML also stated that during the investigation of the incident, the detained persons are being forced to have illegal meetings with persons who may come under the investigation and are trying to settle the case by bribing and forcing to take make favorable statements.

The UML said that the country has been pushed towards an extreme economic crisis as a result of placing businessmen’s representatives in the Ministry of Finance and changing the tax rates to suit their interests and giving the economy contracts to certain business houses.

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