Wide-Body Aircraft Scandal: Former GM Kansakar released on bail

KATHMANDU: Sugat Ratna Kansakar, the prime accused in the wide-body aircraft procurement scandal, has been released on bail of Rs 1 million.

The Special Court ordered the release of Kansakar, the former General Manager of Nepal Airlines Corporation, following his statement and a detention hearing.

The decision was made by the bench comprising Special Court Chairman Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Murari Babu Shrestha and Ritendra Thapa.

According to Special Court spokesperson Dhan Bahadur Karki, Kansakar posted bail immediately after the order was issued.

During Kansakar’s tenure as General Manager, two wide-body aircraft were purchased, which were later found to involve corruption.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) concluded that Rs 1.5 billion was embezzled in the deal, and filed corruption charges against Kansakar and 30 others on April 4, 2024.

Former Tourism Minister Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, another defendant in the case, has already been released on Rs 500,000 bail. Apart from Kansakar, no other defendant in this case has been required to post bail exceeding Rs 500,000.

According to spokesperson Karki, most of the defendants have already appeared in court.