The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Sunday filed a corruption charge-sheet against eight officials of Itahari Transport Management Office at Special Court, Kathmandu, for failing to submit the collected revenue to the state coffer. 

They have been charged with misappropriating Rs 612.12 million during the period from mid-July 2014 to mid-February 2017, according to a press release of issued by the anti graft body.  

Among those indicted in the charge sheet are Under Secretaries—Ramesh Prasad Dahal, Bishnu Prasad Poudel and Nayaraj Nepal, Account Officers—Kumar Bahadur Katuwal and Tikaram Adhikari and Accountants—Suresh Adhikari, Devraj Nepal and Rudra Prasad Dahal.

The CIAA has sought punishment against them as per clause 3 (1i) and clause 7 and of the Corruption Prevention Act 2002.  

As per the clause 3 (1i), the CIAA has sought imprisonment of maximum 10 years because the embezzled amount is over Rs10 million.  As per clause 7, they are liable to pay fine of double of the embezzled amount.

According to the CIAA, the Transport Management Office, Itahari, had collected Rs 657.11 million in fiscal year 2014-15, but only Rs 617.79 million was only deposited into the government’s coffer.

In fiscal 2015-16, the office had collected revenue of Rs 841.90 million, but only Rs 577.03 million was deposited in revenue. In current fiscal 2016-17, the office had collected Rs 840.79 million by mid-February 2017, but the office deposited only 532.86 million only.

The CIAA has fixed separate embezzled amount in the head of different government officials based on their stay in the office.

Under Secretary Dahal has been charged of embezzling 123.03 million while Under Secretary Poudel is charged of embezzling 237.75 million. Under Secretary Nepal has been charged of misappropriating 251.33 million.

Account Officer Katwal committed embezzlement of 21.47 million while another account officer Adhikari has been charged of misappropriating Rs 572.52 million.

Accountant Adhikari has been charge of misappropriating Rs612.12 million while the offense committed by accountant Nepal stood at Rs 456.19 million.  Accountant Dahal has been charged of irregularities worth Rs216.34 million.