Kathmandu, October 6
Former director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Sanjiv Gautam, has been ordered to remain in custody pending trial in a corruption case related to the procurement of consultancy services for the construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport.
A joint bench of Supreme Court justices Dr Nahakul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana upheld an earlier order of the Special Court, ruling that Gautam should remain in custody while the case is heard.
The corruption case concerns allegations that public funds were caused to be lost or misused during the procurement of consultancy services for the airport project.
Under an agreement between CAAN and China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. for the construction of the Pokhara airport, the cost of consultancy services was to be covered under a “provisional sum”. However, according to the case, the consultancy services were procured in violation of the agreement. A separate cost estimate was prepared for a higher amount, allowing expenditure from a budget outside the terms of the original agreement.
The prosecution alleges that Gautam, while serving as CAAN director general, approved the proposal on September 2, 2016, and subsequently entered into the consultancy services procurement agreement on May 7, 2018.
The Special Court had ordered Gautam’s detention on June 16, 2026, stating that he appeared to be the main official responsible for the decision based on the evidence available at the preliminary stage.
The Supreme Court has now ruled that the Special Court’s order was issued in accordance with legal procedure and found no grounds to overturn it.
Gautam will therefore remain in custody while the corruption case proceeds to trial.
