KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 16 individuals, including Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, the current Member Secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), and two companies.
The case, filed at the Special Court on Sunday, accuses the defendants of causing financial losses to the Trust—a public institution—through misuse and embezzlement of public property.
Among those charged are former Member Secretary and current Council Member Raju Kumar Khatri, and former Executive Director Dr. Ghanshyam Khatiwada. The CIAA alleges that the officials deliberately restricted competition during the tender evaluation process, colluded for personal benefit, and intentionally inflicted financial harm on PADT by ignoring past experience and documentation.
The irregularities are linked to the procurement and installation of an electric crematorium at the Pashupati site. The charge sheet states that the defendants caused a financial loss of over Rs 103.3 million (Rs 10 crore 33 lakh 91 thousand 30 rupees and 31 paisa) through this deal.
The CIAA has demanded appropriate punishment for all the accused in accordance with prevailing anti-corruption laws.
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