Kathmandu, June 9
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has decided not to file corruption charges against 24 individuals, including former Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal, in connection with the Nepal Telecom billing system contract case.
The CIAA has, however, filed a corruption case against 18 individuals, including Nepal Telecom Managing Director Sangita Pahadi. The charges relate to alleged irregularities during the extension of a contract for the maintenance of the company’s billing system.
Despite being under investigation, the CIAA concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute 24 others who were involved in the decision-making process.
Those spared from charges include former Communications Secretary and then-Chairperson of the Nepal Telecom Board of Directors Hari Prasad Basyal, and former Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal.
Other board members at the time, including Joint Secretaries Bhupal Baral and Uttarkumar Khatri, and member Shankar Lamichhane, also face no charges.
The list of individuals cleared includes Company Secretary Rajendra Aryal; former Managing Director Dilliram Adhikari; former Technical Officer Bhanuraj Shrestha; former Director Radhakrishna Dhungel; and former Deputy Managing Director Minu Pradhan.
Former Directors Sabina Maskey; former Managers Hari Dhakal, Gangasagar Matanche, Kumar Prasad Khatiwada, Prakash Manandhar, Subodh Rimal, Shobhan Adhikari, and Anup Regmi have also not been charged.
Likewise, the CIAA decided not to pursue cases against former Deputy Managers Maniraj Paudel, Sudipraj Ghimire, Saroj Pradhan, Santosh Bhandari, and former Senior Engineer Prayag Khadka.
The CIAA’s decision to selectively prosecute only those allegedly directly involved in the irregular contract extension reflects its assessment of individual responsibility in the corruption case.
