KATHMANDU: An internal investigation by the Ministry of Health and Population Nepal has found no evidence of fuel misuse in the name of vehicles destroyed during last year’s unrest, contradicting earlier claims made by Health Minister Nisha Mehta.
The controversy began on April 28, when the minister’s secretariat circulated a message alleging that ministry staff had been drawing fuel using records of vehicles burned during the so-called “Gen-Z movement.” The claim quickly spread across social media and news outlets.
The allegation was linked to arson at the ministry premises on Ram Shah Path during protests in September last year, where several government vehicles were destroyed and the building severely damaged.
Following the claim, suspicion centered on under-secretary Mitra Prasad Ghimire, who works in the ministry’s administration division. Ghimire, also known as a trainer for civil service candidates, became the target of sustained online attacks and reputational harm.
After a week of public scrutiny and cyberbullying, a probe committee led by administrative secretary Dilliram Sharma concluded that no fuel had been issued in the name of burned vehicles. The finding was based on a review of police records, fuel logs, and payment documents.
“After detailed investigation, I feel relieved to be proven innocent,” Ghimire wrote in a social media post, describing the episode as one of the most difficult periods of his life.
In a statement, ministry co-spokesperson Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari confirmed the committee’s conclusion, saying the claims of fuel misuse were unfounded. He also urged media outlets and the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
The ministry, however, did not directly address how the initial allegation, circulated from the minister’s own secretariat, came to be publicized.
The case has raised concerns about the impact of unverified claims on public servants, as well as the role of official communication channels in fueling misinformation.
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