The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has summoned Bijaya Prakash Mishra, a local agent of a Swiss company vying for a government contract regarding security printing of passports and other sensitive materials.

Mishra has made headlines after a recording in which he and Gokul Prasad Baskota, then minister for communication and information technology, had been leaked a few months ago, where the latter is allegedly negotiating for Rs 700 million in bribes to award the security printing press contract

Issuing a public notice on Wednesday, the anti-graft body has asked Mishra to appear before the commission within seven days. 

Mishra has been reported to be in Japan currently.

The audio tape, in which Baskota appears to be negotiating for a cut, was leaked in February by a news portal, hamrakura.com. He was subsequently forced to resign from his post. The anti-graft body had then opened a formal investigation on the case.

“We issued a summon notice after Mishra failed to present himself before the commission when he was asked to do so,” said Taranath Adhikari, spokesperson for the commission.

As per the section 43 of the Corruption Prevention Act 2002, if a notice could not be served for failing to find the address of any person or for any other reasons, a public notice shall be published, at least twice, in a national newspaper, giving a time limit of 30 days to the individual.

“Although the deadline for his summon is seven days in the public notice, it can be extended,” said Adhikari.

In a public note issued by Mishra, he has said he has received the notice.

“I have come to Japan to collect the recording device, which is in Japan. I will submit it to the commission,” he said.

He told the Post via a private messaging app that his return ticket would be available on Wednesday.

“I will confirm my return [date] after receiving the air ticket,” he said.

In his press note, Mishra also committed his full cooperation in the investigation.

“Nobody should get immunity from serious crimes against the state like corruption regardless of who–a political person or an ordinary citizen–is involved,” he said.

After the government signed a memorandum of understanding with France for procuring the security printing press last year, allegedly at the interest of Yeti Group, the audio recording was leaked.

The establishment of the security printing press was aimed to print documents like passports, banknotes, all kinds of smart cards, question papers and stickers among others within the country.

After resigning as the minister, Baskota had filed a defamation case against Mishra at the Kathmandu District Court in late February. In May, Mishra filed an application at the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, demanding his and his family members’ security.

A case against Baskota is also pending at the anti-graft commission. Kantipur, the Post’s sister paper, reported a few days back that the anti-graft agency was “preparing to give the clean chit” to Baskota.

Baskota, one of the trusted aides of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has denied charges against him.