SC determines eight-year jail sentence and Rs 34.22 million fine for Paudel, Shrestha

Kathmandu, Nov 28: The Special Court (SC) has sentenced Bikal Paudel, the former executive director of the Security Printing Center, and Phal Shrestha, the former director of the Center, to eight years in prison, along with a fine of Rs 34.22 million each. 

The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising SC Chair Tek Narayan Kunwar and Judges Khusi Prasad Tharu and Ritendra Thapa on Thursday. The two were convicted on October 30 for their involvement in the corruption case related to the printing of excise duty stickers.

However, Baikuntha Aryal, the former Chief Secretary, was acquitted in the case.

On June 23, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a case against 12 individuals, including the three mentioned, accusing them of misappropriating funds in the printing of excise duty stickers. The court also ordered the recovery of Rs 3.86 million from the accused.  (RSS)