KATHMANDU: The cabinet led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli finds itself embroiled in a major corruption scandal after an audio recording surfaced implicating two sitting ministers in a bribery negotiation.
Despite the explosive revelation, PM Oli has remained silent for three days, prompting growing calls for accountability and decisive action.
The leaked audio, which has stirred political uproar, features Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Raj Kumar Gupta and an alleged middleman discussing the appointment of the Kaski Land Commission Chair.
The conversation hints at an attempted exchange of Rs 2 million to secure the post for a recommended individual. The recording also implicates Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari, who is allegedly involved in the bribery scheme.
The audio, now widely circulated, includes references to cash payments, political pressure, and even liquor offerings.
One voice, believed to be Minister Gupta’s, discusses how Minister Adhikari had already accepted money and would not act against those interests. The bribery deal centers around the appointment of Khem Bahadur Pun as Chair of the Kaski Land Commission, despite competition and alleged political interference.
Minister Adhikari has denied taking any bribe, while Minister Gupta has gone further, claiming the audio may have been fabricated using artificial intelligence.
Despite their denials, a complaint backed by the audio evidence has already been filed with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), and lawmakers have raised the issue in House of Representatives.
Public and political pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Oli to act. Critics argue that ministers accused of such serious misconduct must resign on moral grounds or be immediately dismissed.
They cite past examples, such as former ministers Sher Bahadur Tamang and Gokul Baskota, who resigned over far less severe allegations, setting a precedent for ethical responsibility.
PM Oli, who once boasted of not tolerating even the “face of corruption,” is now under scrutiny for failing to respond. Observers say how he handles this scandal will define his government’s credibility on good governance.
The Prime Minister’s critics argue that tolerating these ministers would make a mockery of the government’s commitment to transparency. If the government fails to act decisively, the promise of zero tolerance toward corruption will appear hollow.
The role of law enforcement is also being questioned. If the audio is genuine, it points to criminal misconduct warranting investigation under anti-corruption and criminal laws. However, if fabricated, cybercrime laws would apply to those who created and circulated it. In either case, a thorough and impartial investigation is urgently needed.
The scandal also highlights a troubling precedent set by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who avoided resignation despite serious allegations involving visa manipulation. This has weakened the moral expectations surrounding ministerial accountability.
Unlike Lekhak, a member of the Nepali Congress, both Gupta and Adhikari are lawmakers from the CPN-UML, PM Oli’s own party. Therefore, PM Oli has full authority to dismiss or discipline them without coalition constraints.
Gupta was elected from Parsa-3, narrowly defeating Congress candidate Surendra Prasad Chaudhary. Adhikari won from Kapilvastu-1, defeating a Maoist Center candidate with a wide margin.
The scandal continues to grow as political analysts, media, and civil society wait to see whether PM Oli will uphold the ethical standards he once championed — or shield his ministers in the face of mounting public outrage.
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