KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Divisional Forest Officer Dan Bahadur Shrestha on charges of amassing illegal wealth. Shrestha was serving at the Division Forest Office in Bhojpur.
The CIAA registered the case at the Special Court, seeking a recovery of Rs 14.31 million (Rs 14,318,937), claiming that Shrestha acquired assets disproportionate to his legal income during his tenure as a public official.
Land revenue peon accused of amassing Rs 90 million illegally
According to the CIAA, Shrestha and his family earned a total legitimate income of Rs 21.68 million over 32 years of service. However, their expenses and investments amounted to Rs 36 million, indicating an unexplained surplus of Rs 14.31 million, for which no legal source was verified.
The CIAA has sought imprisonment and fines under Section 20 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, along with confiscation of the illegally acquired property.
Shrestha has also been charged with concealing and submitting false property details while holding public office, for which the CIAA has demanded additional imprisonment and fines.
The CIAA investigation found that the illicitly acquired assets were concealed under the names of Shrestha’s wife, Naramaya Shrestha; daughter-in-law, Bhawana Baduwal; and a private firm—Forest and Environment Research Organization Pvt Ltd, operated by his daughter-in-law. They have also been listed as defendants for the purpose of asset confiscation.
