Corruption in Madhes Province: Case filed against former officials of Agriculture Ministry

Kathmandu, January 6 — A corruption case has been filed against six individuals, including Dr. Namrata Singh, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of Madhes Province.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed the case against Singh and other former officials of the ministry, including Shankar Prasad Sah, the former Senior Agricultural Economist at the Ministry, Amar Chandra Mandal, the former Agricultural Extension Officer, Brajesh Kumar Sah, the former Assistant Accounts Officer, and Laxmi Narayan Yadav, the operator and chairman of Yuvrani Fisheries and Agricultural Farm Pvt. Ltd.

Additionally, the case involves Ranjit Kumar Adhikari, the former veterinarian of the ministry, Avinash Kumar Jha, the former Agricultural Extension Officer, and Bikash Kumar Sah, the former Agricultural Economist of the Agriculture Development Directorate in Dhanusha.

According to spokesperson Narahari Ghimire, investigations revealed significant corruption related to the Food Security and Agricultural Business Promotion Section of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives in Janakpur.

The corruption was linked to an agriculture, livestock, and fisheries development program, which involved fraudulent claims, fake bills, improper payments, and the purchase of goods not in accordance with the required specifications.

The case was initiated following a complaint about these corrupt activities in the fiscal year 2079/080 (Nepali Calendar).