Corruption in Pokhara Airport Construction: Case Filed Against 55 Individuals Including Five Ministers and Three Director-Generals

Kathmandu – The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 55 individuals — including five former ministers and three director-generals of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) — alleging corruption during the construction of the Pokhara International Airport.

The CIAA has filed the case claiming a loss of Rs 8.36 billion, naming four former tourism ministers, a finance minister, and several officials as defendants.

According to the CIAA, former tourism ministers Bahadur Bogati, Ram Kumar Shrestha, Bhim Prasad Acharya, and Dipak Chandra Amatya have been named as defendants, although Bogati has already passed away. Likewise, former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has also been listed as a defendant, with the CIAA stating he was involved in the Rs 8-billion corruption case, CIAA assistant spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari said.

The CIAA has also named former CAAN director-generals Triratna Maharjan, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, and Pradeep Adhikari as defendants. Adhikari, who was recently detained in connection with another corruption case related to helipad construction in Bhaktapur, now faces this additional case.

On the basis of a report prepared by a subcommittee led by Rajendra Lingden under the Public Accounts Committee, the committee had directed on 9 Jestha that the irregularities seen in the construction of the airport be thoroughly investigated.

The inquiry into the corruption at the airport — built with a loan from China — had been on hold for years, with the CIAA citing concerns that it might affect Nepal–China relations. Previous governments had also shown reluctance to proceed with the investigation, reportedly because the Chinese side would come under scrutiny.