Former Minister Ranjeeta Shrestha has also been implicated in the bribery audio scandal involving outgoing Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Raj Kumar Gupta. Evidence has revealed that former minister Shrestha demanded money from the same individual who had handed over cash to former Minister Gupta.
It has been found that Shrestha repeatedly contacted the person from Pokhara who recorded the audio, and even asked for money. She allegedly used her personal security officer (PSO) to demand the money and exchanged information about cabinet meetings.
Onlinekhabar has obtained evidence that former minister Shrestha frequently contacted the person in Pokhara from phone number 98512***54 and demanded money. However, Shrestha denied the allegations, saying, “I have not asked anyone for money in that manner.”
According to details provided to Onlinekhabar by a high-level source at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), former minister Shrestha messaged the Pokhara-based individual, saying, “…Ji, I am at Pashupati worship, I need some cash. Should I send the driver to obtain cash?”
The source further stated that Minister Gupta, former minister Ranjita Shrestha, and the individual who handed over the money in Pokhara were in continuous contact.
“The investigation revealed that former minister Shrestha repeatedly called and messaged the Pokhara individual, assuring assistance with the matter,” said the CIAA-affiliated source. “She not only requested money but also asked for other items needed by Minister Gupta.”
In another message, Shrestha reportedly wrote, “Please send one bottle of coconut oil, the minister needs it.” She also repeatedly mentioned in her messages that she was “in a meeting with Minister Gupta.”
There is also evidence that someone claiming to be the Minister’s PSO messaged the individual in Pokhara, asking, “When will the money matter be discussed?”
The CIAA source confirmed that messages, ranging from notifications about upcoming cabinet meetings to statements like “Minister Gupta is calling me,” were found. The source adds, “There were attempts to transfer a land revenue official concerning a land plot in Pokhara, in which Nagarik Unmukti Chairperson Shrestha was found involved.”
In response to Onlinekhabar, former minister Shrestha denied ever contacting the person from Pokhara.
“I have neither known nor ever contacted that person,” she claimed. “There is no question of asking money from someone I don’t even know,” says Shrestha.
Shrestha admitted she occasionally spoke with Minister Gupta, mainly regarding the deployment and transfer of staff to local bodies in her constituency.
“Other than that, I have never had any conversation or meeting with him,” she says.
She also claimed she had no knowledge about the Pokhara land matter, and insisted that she never discussed or met with either Minister Gupta or the Pokhara individual. “Not, I have never asked anyone for money like that,” she states.
To facilitate the registration of land in Batule Chaur Lichibari, Pokhara, the Land Management Minister Shrestha wanted to keep Deputy-Secretary Ram Chandra Adhikari stationed in Kaski. However, he was transferred to Lamjung, and after the government change, Minister Shrestha lost her position.
Despite being out of office, she still attempted to bring Adhikari, the then Chief Land Revenue Officer, back to Pokhara with the help of former Minister Rajkumar Gupta.
According to sources, Adhikari had built such a good relationship with then-minister Shrestha that he was capable of orchestrating transfers of other officials as well.
To register the Batule Chaur land, the person who recorded Minister Gupta’s audio coordinated the process with help from some residents. He gained the trust of both Adhikari and Minister Ranjeeta Shrestha.
The CIAA source revealed that during this process, Minister Shrestha demanded money from the Pokhara individual. Messages were found showing her asking directly for money, exchanging information, updating about cabinet meetings, and relaying details about her meetings and interactions with Gupta.
“The exchange between outgoing Minister Gupta and the Pokhara individual involved many parties, and investigations into them are ongoing,” the source says. “While digging deeper, we found that former minister Shrestha was involved in demanding money. She has become the third party connected to this case.”
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has begun recording a statement from former minister and Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairperson Ranjeeta Shrestha. According to a CIAA source, the interrogation started at 10 am.
