The Special Court has sentenced Bikal Paudel, former executive director of the Security Printing Centre, and Saphal Shrestha, former director of the centre, to eight years in prison each for their involvement in a corruption case related to the printing of excise duty stickers. The court also ordered both to pay a restitution amount of Rs34.22 million and an equivalent fine.

The full court comprising chair Tek Narayan Kunwar and justices Khushi Prasad Tharu and Ritendra Thapa, delivered the verdict following an investigation into irregularities in the procurement and printing process. The court on October 30 convicted Paudel and Shrestha and determined the sentence on Thursday.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed the case against 12 individuals, including Paudel and Shrestha, on June 23, alleging embezzlement amounting to Rs386.71 million. The charges focused on inflating procurement costs and making irregular payments, among other offences.

While Paudel and Shrestha were found guilty, former chief secretary Baikuntha Aryal and several others named in the case were acquitted by the court.

The government had earlier planned to establish a security printing press to enhance domestic capacity for printing sensitive materials, but the initiative was marred by allegations of mismanagement and kickback negotiations.