Raj Kumar Gupta tendered his resignation from the post of Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration on Tuesday. This followed intense pressure on Gupta over two recently leaked audio clips that linked him to a Rs7.8 million bribery deal involving a political appointment and transfer of a government official in Kaski district.

He announced his resignation on Facebook, stating that he had fallen victim to the misuse of technology, and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Gupta had been appointed minister from Oli’s CPN-UML.

“Sometimes, even the poison you have not consumed can harm you,” he wrote. Gupta called for a fair investigation and pledged to continue serving his party and the public with new commitment.

But resignation alone is not going to end his suffering and misery. Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Gyanendra Shahi demanded the arrest and investigation of Gupta, saying he was implicated in bribery. “The minister should be immediately arrested and investigated. So should other ministers,” Shahi said.

Citing a Nepali proverb, Shahi added, "There used to be a saying, and it still applies today: If you lack knowledge, go to Kashi, if you lack justice, go to Gorkha.” He then added his own pointed remark, “And if you want to commit corruption, join KP Oli’s Cabinet.”

But UML rejected the allegation that Shahi leveled at Gupta. UML whip Sunita Baral objected to Shahi’s remarks, citing a violation of parliamentary rules. She demanded Shahi’s statements be removed from the record, claiming that Shahi had made baseless accusations against the prime minister. Baral said it was an attempt to defame the entire government and its leadership.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire stated that he took note of the issues and rule violations raised by the lawmakers.

Another opposition party, CPN (Maoist Centre), also raised the issue of Gupta’s resignation and also sought the status of Balaram Adhikari, the minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, who was implicated by Gupta in the leaked audio.

Lekhnath Dahal of the Maoist Centre pointed out that in the recently publicised audio recording, Gupta can be heard saying “Balaram took the money but didn’t get the work done.” Dahal questioned, “Shouldn’t Adhikari also resign from his post?”

Of the two audios, in one leaked audio related to a Rs2.5 million bribe deal, Gupta claims that Minister Adhikari has already taken the money (bribe).

In the audio, a middleman is heard urging Gupta, saying: “Listen, minister sir, please speak to Balaram [Adhikari, the land management minister]... I’ll hand over that 20 [Rs2 million] for Khem [Khem Bahadur Pun] tomorrow. I’ll deliver it in the first hour. Just let Balaram know.” Pun was seeking an appointment as chairperson of the Land Commission in Kaski.

In response, Gupta says, “Balaram has already pocketed the money from him, but he still won’t do the job.”

After the controversy erupted, Gupta had reached the prime minister’s official residence at Baluwatar but could not submit the resignation directly to the prime minister who was in a meeting.

Similarly, in the leaked audio, the middleman identified as Sujan Lama also clearly mentions Minister Balram Adhikari by name.

“The minister has submitted a letter here at the secretariat and returned without meeting the prime minister who is in the senate meeting of the Kathmandu University,” Ramsharan Bajagain, communication expert at the secretariat, told the Post on Tuesday.

Another official at the secretariat said that he might have quit the position as per the prime minister’s instruction on Monday.

“Yesterday, the prime minister had asked him to tender his resignation within 24 hours,” said an official at the secretariat requesting anonymity.

Gupta, a UML leader, had attended Monday’s Cabinet meeting despite growing calls for his dismissal. The leaked audio, in which he is allegedly heard negotiating a bribe for transferring a civil servant and arranging a political appointment in Kaski, triggered widespread political backlash. However, the controversy was not raised during the Cabinet meeting, and no action was taken at the time.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has stated that Gupta’s resignation alone is not sufficient in the bribery case. “There has been news that the minister involved in the controversy has resigned. Other ministers are also implicated. Action should be taken against the guilty,” said RSP lawmaker Shiva Nepali.

Nepali said Minister Gupta’s resignation is not enough and demanded a thorough investigation into the bribery scandal.

While acknowledging that Gupta showed a sense of accountability by resigning, he criticised Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak for clinging to power despite the questions raised against him.

Lekhak is implicated in a multi-billion-rupee visit visa scam, which came to light in May. In this scandal, immigration officials at Kathmandu airport were found to be accepting bribes to facilitate the illegal departure of migrant workers travelling on visit visas.

Bhagawati Neupane appointed in Gupta’s place

Meanwhile, National Assembly member Bhagawati Neupane was appointed the Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration on Thursday afternoon. She representes the CPN-UML and replaced Gupta, who resigned on Thursday morning.

Neupane was elected to the National Assembly from the Gandaki province five years ago. Her term in the assembly will expire in February 2026. She joined the UML in 2048 BS (around 1991).

She was a central member of the All Nepal Women's Association and in charge of Tanahun district and later elected a central member of the UML from the 10th general convention held in Chitwan.