The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Wednesday filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Chandra Man Shrestha, a joint-secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment on charge of amassing property worth Rs13.4 million illegally.

The anti-graft body said in a statement that since Shrestha entered into the government service on February 10, 1982, he earned Rs21.06 million legally. But his investments on land, shares, vehicles, spending in education, foreign trips and bank deposits stood at Rs34.47 million.

According to the commission, Shrestha failed to show his source of income for the property worth Rs13.4 million prompting it to file the corruption case at the court. Shrestha will remain suspended from his post until the court gives its verdict as per the Corruption Prevention Act. This has dashed the senior-most joint secretary’s hope of becoming secretary, said a CIAA official.

CIAA Spokesperson Rameshwor Dangal said the anti-graft body has been initiating probe into illegally earned property by public officials with high priority in recent days.

The anti-graft body had initiated the probe into his property after a complaint was registered about two and a half years ago when he was serving as director general at the Department of Transport Management. His served as DG at the department from August 24, 2015 to March 3, 2017.

In the chargesheet, the CIAA has sought imprisonment of up to two years and a fine according to the value of property amassed illegally and confiscation of such property if proven guilty. As the illegally earned property was in the name of his wife Jamuna Tandukar and Bhagawati Yogi of Swathi, Nawalparasi, the CIAA has also named them as defendant in the case.