CIAA Files Corruption Charges Against Transport Office Officials Over Fake Licenses

Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case in the Special Court against former employees of the Transport Management Office, Pokhara, for irregularities involving the distribution of fake driver's licenses.

According to the CIAA, it has been confirmed that former Administrative Officer (8th level) Shankar Thapa and former Computer Operator Jagat Dhakal of the Transport Management Office, Kaski, colluded with Him Bahadur Basnet of Galkot Municipality-2, Baglung, to manipulate government records. They illegally altered electronic records by using a non-existent old license number (DL 08-42482) as a basis.

During the investigation, it was discovered that false details were entered to show that Basnet's Class A and B license was issued 20 years ago, with an issue date of 2058 Chaitra 27 and an expiry date of 2078 Chaitra 22. Based on these falsified records, a duplicate license was issued on 2078 Chaitra 15.

Following the confirmation of corruption through the manipulation of government documents and electronic records, the CIAA filed a charge sheet in the Special Court on Friday against Administrative Officer Thapa, Operator Dhakal, and service recipient Basnet, seeking appropriate penalties. The CIAA stated that such actions, involving unauthorized access to confidential office records for personal gain, pose a serious threat to good governance.