Three Charged in Corruption Case for Issuing Driver's Licenses Irregularly at Jumla Transport Office

Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption case at the Special Court on Sunday against three individuals for issuing driver's licenses (licenses) to people who failed the practical test or were residing abroad for foreign employment at the Transport Management Office, Jumla.

The Commission filed the case on Sunday against the then acting chief of the office, Madan Prasad Devkota, Mechanical Supervisor Shambhu Dahal, and Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gangaram Bishwakarma.

During the CIAA investigation, it was found that a Class 'B' license was issued from Jumla in the name of Shaligram Bhandari, who was employed in Malaysia. Bhandari went to Malaysia on Bhadra 19, 2070 BS and returned to Nepal only on Bhadra 23, 2075 BS. However, while he was still in Malaysia, it was found that he was shown to have 'passed' the written and practical exams on Shrawan 20, 2075 BS, and the license (No. 14-004523) was issued to him on Shrawan 25.

17 Who Failed Were Passed Through 'Setting'

According to the investigation, besides Bhandari, 17 other examinees who had failed or were absent in the practical test (trial) were also illegally declared successful. The CIAA claims that the 'Fail' or 'Absent' results in the computer system were fraudulently changed to 'Pass' using 'User ID 467'.

The individuals who received licenses include those who failed: Shiv Bahadur Chhetri, Anka Bahadur Shahi, Shanta Kumari Chaulagai, Prem Prasad Upadhyay, Meghraj Dangi, Min Bahadur Malla, Saraswati Bhurtel, Sabika Dahal, Deepak Shahi, Resham Adhikari, Netrakala Jaisi, Astha Bhattarai, Bikash Khatri, Aarti Neupane, Lokendra Malla, Tarabahadur Thapa, and the absent ones Himal Bohora and Kung Sandup Lama.

According to the technical report from the IT branch of the Department of Transport Management, it has been confirmed that the then acting office chief Madan Prasad Devkota altered the examination results using his user ID. The Commission concluded that the government employees acted with malicious intent, tampering with and adding to official documents and electronic records, thus committing corruption.