KATHMANDU: The government has suspended Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Maha Prasad Adhikari.

According to a Finance Ministry source, Deputy Governor Neelam Dhungana has been made the acting governor.

A letter of suspension was handed over to the Governor Adhikari on Friday. Press Advisor to the Prime Minister Govinda Pariyar confirmed that the governor had been suspended.

According to a minister, questions were raised regarding Governor Adhikari’s conduct in the cabinet meeting held on Thursday. The governor allegedly leaked information about Finance Ministry’s directive to prohibit the import of luxury goods.

An unofficial panel of ministers had also been formed to probe allegations leveled against Adhikari.

The unofficial team included Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Finance Minister Janadarna Sharma, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Energy Minister Pampha Bhusal, Health Minister Birodh Khatiwada and Federal Affairs Minister Rajendra Shrestha.

Meanwhile, a three-member panel led by former judge Purushotam Bhandari has been tasked to probe the allegations against Governor Adhikari and submit a report within a month.

Finance Minister Sharma and Governor Adhikari had not been on good terms since Sharma took office. Also, a delegation of private sector businessmen had drawn Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s attention towards the existing financial crisis and held the governor responsible for it.