KATHMANDU, April 17: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 15 individuals, seeking recovery of about Rs 107.5 million over alleged irregularities in the construction of a cold storage facility in Rupandehi.
The anti-graft body lodged the case at the Special Court on Wednesday, concluding that serious irregularities occurred in the under-construction project at Siddhanath, Sammarimai Rural Municipality–5. CIAA spokesperson Suresh Neupane said the commission has sought Rs 7.197 million from each of the accused.
“The charge sheet has been filed with the conclusion that government funds were misused, with payments made based on inflated estimates and fake bills,” Neupane said.
According to the CIAA, the project was implemented under an approved programme of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives of Lumbini Province for fiscal year 2019/20. The total project cost was set at Rs 54.379 million, with 75 percent funded by the ministry and 25 percent by cooperatives.
The commission has sought imprisonment and fines equivalent to the claimed amount under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, arguing that public funds were misappropriated, causing losses of the same magnitude.
CIAA files corruption case worth Rs 103 million against six peo...
Among those charged is former ministry secretary Baikuntha Adhikari, against whom the CIAA has sought Rs 7.197 million along with imprisonment and fines. Other officials charged include then Senior Agriculture Development Officer Shridhar Gyawali, Agriculture Extension Officer Mukundaram Nepali, Accounts Officer Laxman Paudel, and Assistant Accountant Ajay Mishra, each facing identical claims.
The consultancy firm Mega Minds Architects and Structure Pvt Ltd and its operator Sagun Koirala have also been charged, with the CIAA alleging they secured illegal gains by manipulating cost estimates and evaluations.
Similarly, officials from several cooperatives—including Bhawani Swabalamban Multipurpose Cooperative, Krishna Swabalamban Savings and Credit Cooperative, Navadurga Cooperative, Vaishno Mata Cooperative, and Janakalyan Cooperative—have been charged individually with the same amount.
The CIAA has also sought recovery from the legal heirs of deceased individuals, including former chair of Marchawari Swabalamban Cooperative, the late Shyamsundar Yadav, and former chairperson of Janautthan Cooperative, the late Kifayat Gosai.
The charge sheet states that the procurement process violated the Public Procurement Act, with contracts awarded without open competition, inaccurate measurement reports prepared, and payments made against fake bills.
The structure has been found incomplete, deteriorating, and unused, rendering it unfit for operation, the CIAA said.
The commission said recovery will be pursued from legal heirs where defendants have passed away, underscoring that those involved in embezzlement of public funds will not evade legal action.
Spokesperson Neupane added that stricter measures are being enforced to curb irregularities in government-funded projects, and investigations will be intensified to bring those responsible to justice.
Stakeholders say such irregularities not only lead to misuse of public resources but also undermine local development goals, particularly in agricultural infrastructure. The failure to complete cold storage facilities on time has directly affected farmers, forcing them to incur losses.
In a separate case, the CIAA has filed a corruption case against a former official of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), accusing him of large-scale financial irregularities.
The case was filed at the Special Court on Thursday, seeking recovery of over Rs 105.495 million from Tiwari.
According to the CIAA, while Tiwari and his wife reported legitimate earnings of Rs 145.191 million from salaries, other income sources, and land sales, an investigation into bank accounts, property, and assets revealed holdings worth Rs 250.687 million.
The case has reignited concerns over transparency and oversight within public institutions, particularly when senior officials in sensitive bodies face allegations of such scale.
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