Gyanendra Jha and Dhowjman Moktan, two accused-turned-witnesses in the corruption scandal involving former commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Raj Narayan Pathak, have demanded government protection.

They have submitted separate applications to the CIAA and the Prime Minister’s Office demanding guarantee of safety of their persons and property. Jha and Moktan had received several threat calls before a video footage, in which Pathak is seen admitting to taking bribe from Lambodar Neupane, executive board member of Nepal Engineering College, became public. The threats stopped after the video came out. But Jha and Moktan still feel threatened from Pathak.

“There is a reason to fear Pathak. He and I come from the same area in Mahottari. I know his character very well,” said Jha, who has confessed to handing over bribe money on behalf of Lambodar to Pathak. Jha had submitted his application to the CIAA demanding security on March 14, while Moktan had filed a separate application to the PMO on March 12.

Following their applications, Jha and Moktan were notified that they would be watched over by plainclothes security personnel. The duo was also told to exercise caution from their sides as well, and inform the security agencies in advance if they are travelling somewhere. Moktan, who is also a member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, said that he was also relying on his party for his safety.

Moktan is a friend of Jha’s and the person who had secretly filmed Pathak talking about the bribe he had accepted from Neupane. The video footage proved to be Pathak’s downfall. He resigned from his post on February 15. A month later, he was charged with corruption along with Pathak. The CIAA spared Jha and Moktan after they agreed to cooperate with the investigators.