KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against eight individuals, including the former Finance Minister of Madhesh Province, Bijay Kumar, for alleged irregularities in the construction of Bharat Lake in Sarlahi.
According to the CIAA, Minister Kumar, on June 20, 2021, unilaterally decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide a grant of Rs 300 million for the construction of a fishpond (Bharat Lake), bypassing due process.
He allegedly made this decision without submitting it to the Council of Ministers and disregarded the legal advice of the ministry’s legal officer and the protocol concerning the Chief Administrative Officer at the local level.
A charge sheet has been filed against the former minister along with other officials: suspended Mayor of Sarlahi Bharat Kumar Thapa, suspended Mayor of Bagmati Municipality Leela Kumari Muktan, suspended Chief Administrative Officer of Bagmati Municipality Bimal Kumar Pokharel, then Legal Officer of the Ministry of Finance Gokul Bhujel, Engineer Niranjan Lamichhane, suspended Engineer Sagar Poudel, and suspended Accounts Officer Bishwaraj Pokharel.
The CIAA has sought punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2059 BS. It has claimed compensation of Rs 299.98 million from Vijay Kumar and Legal Officer Bhujel, Rs 567.17 million from Mayor Muktan and CAO Pokharel, Rs 465.61 million from Engineer Poudel, and Rs 563.34 million from Accounts Officer Pokharel.
The Commission also stated that illegal construction, including ponds, had been carried out within a forest area, violating the Forest Act 2049 BS and the prevailing Forest Act 2076 BS.
As such, all such structures are subject to confiscation and cannot be used for any purpose.
The CIAA added that between fiscal years 2075/76 and 2079/80, the accused colluded with officials of the Madhesh Province Ministry of Finance to misuse conditional and special grants in violation of the Provincial Appropriation Act and decisions of the Provincial Council of Ministers. This resulted in financial damage amounting to Rs 567.17 million to Bagmati Municipality and the federal government.
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