Maoist MP Dahal faces corruption charges

Kathmandu, August 22 -  CPN Maoist Center MP Lekhnath Dahal (Rajan) has been accused of corruption. He is alleged to have engaged in embezzlement and corruption during the construction of the Sindhuli Party office building.

Ratopati has discovered that serious questions have been raised about this matter within the party. Not only did district leaders express serious concerns during a recent meeting of the District Coordination Committee in Sindhuli, but the issue was also mentioned in an internal circular of the party.

The internal circular issued on August 11, signed by district in-charge Buddhiman Majhi (Basanta), states that Rajan has failed to present the income and expenditure reports despite repeated requests and warnings.

The circular specifies, "As per the decision of the previous district coordination committee, the then district in-charge and central committee member Lekhnath Dahal (Rajan) was repeatedly requested and directed to present the income and expenditure reports for the construction of the district party office building."

 The account manager, Ganesh Ratna, was called to the office during the construction work and asked to present the income and expenditure reports, but there was no response. Based on Ganesh Ratna's statement, it is understood that approximately 40-45 lakhs remain from the construction, deposited in the name of Jansewa Foundation. To date, the party committee has not received the income and expenditure statement for the building construction.

District committee leaders claim that Rajan embezzled large sums of money and that an investigation should be conducted. This issue was also discussed in a consultation meeting of central members and provincial officials from Bagmati Province at the Maoist party office on Wednesday.

A leader from Bagmati Province noted that some leaders raised their voices about the corruption scandal, citing Sindhuli as an example. The leader emphasized the need for the party to investigate the irregularities.

The meeting on Wednesday was attended by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Senior Vice Chairman Narayankaji Shrestha, Vice Chairman Agni Prasad Sapkota, and leaders Janardan Sharma, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Girirajmani Pokharel, Haribol Gajurel, and others.

Since becoming a federal MP, Rajan has consistently supported Chairman Prachanda. Although Prachanda remains somewhat skeptical, party leaders believe Rajan has been making statements in Prachanda's favor both in parliament and publicly to gain his trust.

Despite repeated attempts by Ratopati to contact him regarding the alleged corruption during the construction of the party office building, Dahal has not responded.