Three Convicted in Dhanusha Goat and Cutter Machine Distribution Corruption Case

The Special Court has sentenced three individuals, including the then Ward Chairman and an engineer, to imprisonment and fines for corruption in the distribution of goats and cutter machines in Sabaila Municipality, Dhanusha.

The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by a bench comprising Special Court Chairman Sudarshan Dev Bhattarai and members Hemanta Rawal and Umesh Koirala.

The court sentenced the then Ward Chairman Durga Prasad Ray, Engineer Ranjit Kumar Yadav, and Cooperative Chairman Sanju Kumari Yadav to one year in prison each and a fine of NPR 492,500 each.

Furthermore, the court ordered them to pay NPR 19,700 each in compensation to be deposited into the Victim Relief Fund.

The ruling also stated that the total misappropriated amount was NPR 1,477,500, which is to be recovered equally from the three convicts.

However, the court acquitted the then Accountant Shiva Kumar Jha, Veterinary Technician Rajkishor Salhaita, Palavi Thakur, and Rautit Thakur, who were also accused in the same case.

They were acquitted from the charges as sufficient objective basis and evidence confirming their involvement were not found.

It was confirmed that corruption occurred through collusion among the then Ward Chairman of Sabaila Municipality Ward No. 8, Dhanusha, Durga Prasad Ray, the then Municipal Engineer Ranjit Kumar Yadav, and the Chairman of Archana Krishi Sahakari Sanstha, Sanju Kumari Yadav.

It was found that they created fake bills and vouchers without purchasing goats, kids, castrated goats, and cutter machines, took payment, and failed to distribute them to the farmers.