The Special Court on Thursday began recording statements for the detention hearing of Pradeep Adhikari, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and former director Murari Bhandari, who have been accused of corruption in the construction of the Nalinchok helipad in Bhaktapur.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Wednesday arrested Adhikari and Bhandari and filed a corruption case against six people.

Both officials were taken into custody from the CIAA premises after they arrived there in connection with their court date.

According to the CIAA, the case seeks to recover Rs135.74 million from the accused and impose an equal amount in fines. The Special Court said statements of the arrested officials are underway, after which the detention hearing will begin.

Adhikari also faces charges over alleged irregularities in several other projects, including the authority’s office building in Sinamangal, the regional international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa, and the procurement of airport operations-related technology in Pokhara.

Earlier complaints to the CIAA had claimed the Nalinchok helipad was built on 32 ropani of CAAN land without an environmental impact assessment, raising concerns about lapses on procedural compliance and the project’s necessity. The helipad was inaugurated on June 21, 2024, by then tourism minister Hit Bahadur Tamang and Adhikari.