KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption and money laundering case against former Director General of the Department of Revenue Investigation, Jhalak Ram Adhikari, along with two others.
The anti-graft body on Sunday accused Adhikari of accepting a bribe of Rs 7 million from Shrikrishna Shrestha Bijyu, operator of H.K. Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., promising to facilitate an investigation related to revenue leakage.
According to the CIAA, the bribe amount was deposited in banks and financial institutions through accounts of different individuals in an attempt to conceal its origin. The money was later used to repay loans and purchase land, as stated in the charge sheet filed at the Special Court Nepal.
The investigation found that Rs 2 million from the bribe amount was deposited in the account of Devendra KC, managing director of The Kuti Resort Pvt. Ltd., and used to repay a loan of the resort.
Similarly, Rs 5 million was invested in purchasing land in the Divyashwori project area at Madhyapur Thimi in Bhaktapur in the name of Rabindra Lamichhane, according to the commission.
The CIAA stated that Adhikari abused his public office by accepting the bribe and attempting to launder the amount through bank transactions.
The commission has demanded legal action against Adhikari under the Prevention of Corruption Act Nepal and the Asset (Money) Laundering Prevention Act Nepal, setting the claimed amount at Rs 7 million.
Similarly, cases have been filed against KC and Lamichhane for allegedly assisting the main accused, with claimed amounts of Rs 2 million and Rs 5 million respectively.
CIAA spokesperson Suresh Nyaupane said the commission has also sought confiscation of the land purchased with the bribe money and the amount used to repay the loan.
According to the commission, the charge sheet has been filed at the Special Court on both corruption and money laundering charges.
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