Man Arrested for Threatening Anti-Graft Chief Admits Taking Bribe from Civil Aviation Authority Ex-Director
Kathmandu. Prakash Pathak, who threatened high-profile individuals including the Chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Prem Kumar Rai, is currently in police custody. Police investigation has revealed that Pathak, arrested with the help of Interpol, took a 'supari' (contract/bribe) from the then-Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Pradip Adhikari, to issue threats against the CIAA Chief.
In his statement to investigating officers, Pathak admitted to receiving money from Pradip Adhikari. The CIAA was investigating a complaint regarding irregularities in the construction of a helipad in Nalinchowk, Bhaktapur.
The police investigation concluded that Adhikari mobilized a criminal 'gang' against the CIAA Chief to evade investigation into the corruption case related to the Pokhara International Airport.
Pathak admitted in his statement that he received NPR 20 million in cash from Adhikari. According to police officers involved in the investigation, Pathak stated, 'I took 20 million rupees from him.'
The investigation found that Adhikari sent the money via hawala through a Chinese contractor. Pathak confessed to purchasing an apartment in the Philippines with that money. Investigating officers are currently collecting evidence to confirm his statement. He was brought back to Nepal from the Philippines on Magh 28. He had threatened the CIAA Chief and 10 other high-profile individuals via social media (Facebook).
The police are investigating Pathak under charges of criminal gain, criminal conspiracy, and offenses under the Electronic Transactions Act, having obtained custody for investigation.
It was also found that Pathak extorted NPR 500,000 in cash from the operator of a dental college in Samakhusi through threats. Since the money was sent in the name of Tara Prasad Kharel, the police are also investigating Kharel.
- Adhikari Also Set to Become an Accused
Pradip Adhikari is currently detained in Dillibazar Prison awaiting trial in the corruption case related to the helipad construction in Nalinchowk, Bhaktapur. The police are preparing to name him as an accused along with Pathak in the case of threatening VIPs. An official from the Kathmandu District Police Range told Ratopati that Adhikari will also be made an accused after recording his statement under charges of criminal gain, criminal conspiracy, and offenses under the Electronic Transactions Act. He stated, 'We will summon Pradip Adhikari from prison to take his statement, and a case will also be filed against him.'
The police investigation concluded that Adhikari 'used' Pathak to threaten CIAA Chief Rai after receiving a tip-off that the CIAA was about to file a corruption case against him in the Special Court regarding irregularities in the construction of the heliport in Nalinchowk, Bhaktapur.
Pathak, who left the country in 2080 BS and had been living abroad, had recently traveled to various countries before reaching the Philippines. Around 2077 BS, he was involved in sending Nepalis abroad on visit visas. Recently, Pathak was found to be issuing threats via social media with the mentality that 'money comes after intimidation.'
Kathmandu SSP Ramesh Thapa informed that Pathak's mobile phone has been sent to the Digital Forensic Lab for examination. He said, 'He is being investigated from various angles.'
It was found that two cases are currently ongoing against Pathak for foreign employment fraud. He is accused of defrauding people by promising to send them to New Zealand and Russia. Pathak, who initially studied BDS, later completed his Master's in Political Science from Tribhuvan University. Pathak had also threatened Lokman Singh Karki, Gopal Bahadur Khadka, Ramesh Lekhak, Balkrishna Khand, Arzu Rana, Omm Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung, Ramesh Chand Thakuri, and Durga Prasai by posting videos on social media.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
