CIAA files five cases against local level officials

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, June 4:The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed five different cases against Godawari Municipality Mayor (suspended) Gajendra Maharjan, Deputy Mayor (suspended) Muna Adhikari and other officials at the Special Court on Monday.

The CIAA filed a corruption case against nine individuals including Maharjan and Adhikari for revenue embezzlement in headings of river materials like gravels, sand and others causing a loss of Rs. 266.37 million to the municipality in the Fiscal Year 2022/23. The CIAA presented Godawari Municipality’s the then chief administrative officer Birendradev Bharati, the then head of the revenue department Shree Ram Acharya and others. 

Similarly, another case was filed against the same defendants as mentioned in the above case for revenue embezzlement in headings of river materials in the Fiscal Year 2021/22. CIAA said they caused a loss of Rs. 204.95 million to the municipality.

Likewise, in a different case, the CIAA also presented above mentioned nine individuals as defendants for revenue embezzlement in headings of river materials in the Fiscal Year 2020/21 causing a loss of Rs. 186.32 million to the municipality.

Another case was also filed against nine individuals including the suspended mayor and deputy mayor for revenue embezzlement in headings of river materials in the Fiscal Year 2019/20 and causing a loss of Rs. 212.19 million.

Additionally, the CIAA presented nine defendants in another case for revenue embezzlement in headings of river materials in the Fiscal Year 2018/19 and causing a loss of Rs. 178.93 million. In all five cases, the defendants were accused of embezzling Rs. 1.048 billion. 

The CIAA demanded all defendants be fined and punished in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act-2002.