Valley
Lokman’s aide claims innocence
Pramod Kumar Karki, chairperson of Agricultural Development Bank Limited, has denied obstructing the court proceedings in serving a summons to Lokman Singh Karki, who remains suspended as the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).Dewan Rai
Pramod Kumar Karki, chairperson of Agricultural Development Bank Limited, has denied obstructing the court proceedings in serving a summons to Lokman Singh Karki, who remains suspended as the chief of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
In a written clarification submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday, Karki argued that he could not think of obstructing the court proceedings since he has law degree and commanded a high morality during his 29-year service in Nepal government.
He said that he had only stopped briefly to check on the crowd gathered in front of Lokman Singh Karki’s residence as he was returning home from Old Baneshwor.
On November 9, the apex court had sought clarification from Lokman Singh Karki, who currently remains suspended and three of his aides: Karki’s son-in-law Prabal Thapa, Pramod Karki, who is also former secretary at the Ministry of Law, and Nepal Police Sub-Inspector Nakul Raj Gautam for “obstructing judicial proceedings”.
Karki’s supporters had obstructed court officials from pasting a court summons on Karki’s residence. The court had served the summons on Karki in third attempt.
The court had summoned Karki to discuss his appointment, which has been challenged by Advocate Om Prakash Aryal in the apex court as ‘unlawful’.
Aryal has argued that Karki’s appointment as constitutional head is flawed in two major premises: Karki’s tenure in government service and constitutional provision about his moral character to head the constitutional body. Karki does not meet 20-year government service requirement for the post, while he was dragged into corruption case as well as the Cabinet disqualified him to hold any public position after the popular movement in 2006.
After Karki and his aides tried to bar court officials from delivering the notice, Aryal on November 4 had filed a writ petition demanding action against those involved in obstructing the court proceedings.
On November 9, the court had sought clarification from all four defendants as to why they should not be punished for their act.
Although Pramod Karki denied his involvement, he was captured on camera shouting at the court dispatcher not to paste the summons on former chief secretary’s house. In his written clarification, he argued that the court should not considered photos and video footages, which were “taken by biased media”, for evidence.