Supreme Court Schedules Hearing for Former Minister Ram Kumar Shrestha's Corruption Case

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for the corruption case against former minister Ram Kumar Shrestha for Friday. Former Minister Shrestha, along with his wife Saraswati and son Saroj, had approached the Supreme Court against the decision of the Special Court in Kathmandu, which had convicted them in a case related to the acquisition of illegal assets.

Shrestha, who also served as a former secretary, was a minister in the then-led election government of Khil Raj Regmi formed in 2070 BS. The Special Court had convicted him on charges of acquiring disproportionate assets since entering public service.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a corruption case against him, alleging that he illegally acquired 4 crore 45 lakh 27 thousand 6 hundred 68 rupees.

Shrestha, who began his public service career as a teacher, retired after serving as a Section Officer, Under Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Secretary in the civil service. The CIAA used the period when he was a minister as a basis for its investigation.

The CIAA filed the corruption case against him on 15 Falgun 2078 BS. The CIAA claimed that he engaged in corruption by acquiring illegal assets from the beginning of his public service until he became a secretary and during his tenure as a minister.

According to the CIAA, Shrestha entered government service in 2026 BS and retired in Magh 2064 BS. He returned to a government post in 2070 BS as a minister in the election cabinet.

During his public service, he earned 6 crore 90 lakh rupees. However, during the investigation, assets worth 11 crore 35 lakh rupees were found in his name. The CIAA claimed 4 crore 45 lakh rupees as the amount whose source could not be ascertained.

The CIAA also sought the confiscation of 68 lakh 50 thousand rupees held in his bank account, along with his real estate and other assets.