CIAA prepares to file charges, concluding corruption in the purchase of electric crematoriums

Kathmandu – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is set to file a case following its conclusion that corruption occurred in the purchase of an electric crematorium at Pashupati Aryaghat.

According to sources, after a detailed investigation into allegations of irregularities in the procurement of four furnaces and a generator, valued at 120 million Nepali rupees, the commission is preparing to take the case to the Special Court in Kathmandu.

The commission, which had previously investigated the golden railings scandal at Pashupati, is now probing another major fraud case. Those implicated in the 2080 Ashoj procurement include Sudan Kiranti, the former Chairman of the Pashupati Area Development Trust and then-Tourism Minister; former Member Secretary Milan Kumar Thapa; Acting Member Secretary Rajukumar Khatri; and former Executive Director Ghanshyam Khatiwada.

Sudan Kiranti served as the Tourism Minister under then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda from the Maoist party and is currently a Member of the House of Representatives.

Others involved in the alleged irregularities include former Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Bharat Mani Subedi, who is currently the Secretary of the Election Commission. The CIAA has taken statements from more than a dozen officials. The process of determining who will be charged is underway.

CIAA’s investigation also includes Pashupati Area Development Trust employees, including Revati Raman Adhikari, Uddhav Bista, senior engineer Pashupati Thakur, and engineers Denis Uprety and Ramesh Puri.

Kathmandu Metropolitan Ward No. 8 Chairman Aashaman Sangat has also been brought under investigation by the commission.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has scheduled a verdict for June 18 regarding appointments of 52 officials to 13 constitutional bodies under controversy. The decision, which was initially expected on May 28, was postponed paying heed to the activity of several commissions, including the CIAA.

With the verdict date set, the commission has expedited case filing. Previously, the CIAA charged former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal in the Patanjali land case, and also filed a case against former Congress Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet concerning Teramax procurement.