Kathmandu, August 20
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has said a complaint alleging that Rs 700 million was negotiated as commission in the procurement of a security printing press remains under detailed investigation.
The CIAA disclosed the status of the case during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Thursday. Acting CIAA Secretary Padma Mainali provided the information while briefing lawmakers on the commission’s activities.
The case involves former Communications Minister Gokul Baskota, who was accused of negotiating a commission in connection with the proposed procurement of a security printing press.
The CIAA began investigating the matter after a complaint was filed following the release of an audio recording in February 2020. The recording purportedly captured a conversation between Baskota and Vijay Prakash Mishra, the Nepal representative of a Swiss company involved in the security printing press project, regarding the procurement cost and alleged commission.
The audio sparked widespread controversy, and Baskota subsequently resigned as communications minister.
The complaint was then registered with the CIAA, which launched an investigation into the allegations.
In 2023, then-CIAA Chief Commissioner Prem Kumar Rai had also told the Public Accounts Committee that the commission was investigating the alleged Rs 700 million commission case.
The CIAA reiterated on Thursday that the complaint concerning the alleged commission negotiation in the security press procurement remains under detailed investigation.
