Former Minister Bikram Pandey Arrested in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, April 24, 2026 — Police have arrested Bikram Pandey, a former minister and senior leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), in connection with alleged manipulation of the government’s public procurement system.

According to officials, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police took Pandey into custody on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation into irregularities involving the e-bidding system used for government contracts.

Authorities allege that Pandey was involved in hacking or gaining unauthorized access to the bidding platform to influence tender outcomes in favor of his own company.

Pandey, who also serves as a vice-chairman of the RPP and was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, is a well-known contractor associated with Kalika Construction.

Police officials stated that the arrest is part of a broader effort to investigate tampering with tender processes and contract irregularities, and further legal action will depend on the findings of the ongoing probe.