School Principal and Two Others Face Corruption Charges Over Misappropriated Scholarship Funds in Jumla

Jumla. A corruption case has been filed against three individuals, including Narendra Bahadur Mahat, the principal of Ganesh Secondary School in Ranka, Tatopani Rural Municipality-1, Jumla, on charges of misappropriating scholarship funds.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) central office filed the case on Monday against Principal Mahat, along with the School Management Committee Chairman Tilprasad Bhattarai and the accounting assistant, accusing them of misappropriating NPR 145,350 in scholarship funds received by the school for the fiscal year 2079-80.

It has been reported that Principal Mahat sent a voucher to Tatopani Rural Municipality claiming to have distributed scholarship funds on Chaitra 21, 2080, to 83 female students from grades 1 to 5 at a rate of NPR 1,000 each, and to 44 female students from grades 6 to 8 at a rate of NPR 1,485.23 each, totaling NPR 148,350.

The CIAA confirmed that the scholarship funds received by the school were not distributed to the concerned female students, and it was established that the defendants colluded to create a forged voucher on Ashoj 21, 2080, and subsequently prepared another forged voucher on Chaitra 21, 2080, claiming scholarship distribution.

According to CIAA Spokesperson Suresh Neupane, an indictment was filed at the Special Court in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding conviction and fines against them for the offense under Section 8(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059, with a claimed misappropriated amount of NPR 145,350.