Suspended Chief Secretary Aryal cleared of corruption charges

Kathmandu, October 30 — Suspended Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal has been cleared of corruption charges. The Special Court has ruled in his favor.

The decision was made by the bench led by Chief Justice Tek Narayan Kunwar, along with Justices Khushi Prasad Tharu and Ritendra Thapa. The ruling stated, "Defendant Dr. Baikuntha Aryal demonstrated that the budget allocation for the National Security Printing Center was made through the national budget via LMBs. The director of the security printing center, defendant Bikal Paudel, presented the budget and procurement plan to the defendant's secretary, who, in his capacity as secretary of the ministry, approved the budget and procurement plan without any substantive deviation from the budget's intent. As it is evident that all parties involved worked in the interest of implementing a project of national necessity and significance, the allegations of damaging government property or seeking personal gain against the defendant were not substantiated. Thus, the defendant is acquitted of the charges."

This ruling comes in response to a case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority regarding alleged corruption in the printing of internal revenue stickers. The Special Court made the decision on Wednesday.