KATHMANDU: Two individuals have been arrested on charges of illegally accessing and manipulating contract details in the government’s electronic procurement system.
According to police, the accused allegedly gained unauthorized access to the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO)’s e-Government Procurement (e-GP) system and altered contract-related documents before the opening of financial proposals.
Following a complaint lodged with the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, an investigation was initiated under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063. Based on an arrest warrant issued by the Kathmandu District Court, a police team detained the suspects.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Swadesh Pokharel, 30, originally from Siraha and currently residing in Bhaktapur, and Prakash Dhungana, 41, originally from Nuwakot and currently residing in Kathmandu.
Pokharel is a shareholder and accountant of Incon Pvt. Ltd., while Dhungana serves as director of Kalpavriksha Builders Pvt. Ltd.
Police said the duo is accused of accessing the e-GP system and manipulating documents related to various contracts prior to the evaluation of financial bids.
They were arrested from the PepsiCola and Balaju areas of Kathmandu. The Cyber Bureau said further investigation is underway under the Organized Crime Prevention Act, 2070.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security and transparency of Nepal’s government procurement system. Authorities have also indicated that more individuals may be involved and investigations are ongoing.
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