Three including former CAAN DG Charged with Extortion and Organized Crime

Kathmandu. An indictment has been filed against three individuals, including former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Pradip Adhikari, on charges of threatening the Chief Commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Prem Kumar Rai.

According to a press release issued by the District Police Complex Kathmandu on Tuesday, charges have been filed against them under the Organized Crime Prevention Act, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Gain (Extortion), Hundi Business, and Electronic Transactions.

Police investigation revealed that the other defendants, under the direction and collusion of the then Director General of CAAN, Adhikari, had collectively threatened the Chief of the CIAA, Rai. They pressured Rai to resign by invoking the name of a terrorist organization called 'EGN'. The police stated that they attempted to gain criminal profit by threatening Rai through letters, WhatsApp numbers, and videos, warning of taking his life if he did not resign.

In this case, the police have named three individuals as main defendants. Among those charged is 46-year-old Pradip Adhikari, a permanent resident of Khairahani Municipality-4, Chitwan, currently residing in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, who is the former Director General of CAAN.

Similarly, charges have also been filed against 34-year-old Prakash Pathak, a permanent resident of Temal Rural Municipality-1, Kavrepalanchok, who is hiding in the Philippines, and 56-year-old Taraprasad Kharel, a resident of Buddhshanti Rural Municipality-2, Jhapa.

The defendants have been charged with various offenses under the Muluki Criminal Code, 2074, and the Organized Crime Prevention Act, 2070. According to the police, Prakash Pathak faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit murder, criminal gain, Hundi-related transactions, offenses against the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063, and additional penalties under the Organized Crime Prevention Act.

Likewise, Pradip Adhikari has been charged with criminal conspiracy, abetting criminal gain, Hundi business, and organized crime. Both Adhikari and Pathak are also facing additional charges for integrated offenses.

The other defendant, Taraprasad Kharel, has been charged with abetting criminal gain, Hundi-related transactions, and organized crime. He is also facing additional penalties for integrated offenses.

A statement issued by Deputy Superintendent of Police Kaushal Kumar Budhathoki of the District Police Complex Kathmandu mentioned, 'If further facts and evidence emerge regarding the involvement of Arjun Bahadur Shahi, Navin Basnet, Jagadambe Guru alias Sarya Kinnara, Pramod Sedhai, Chandmala Shrestha, Jenu Thapa, Ravi Singhal, and others in the present case, or if the involvement of defendants Pradip Adhikari, Prakash Pathak, and Tara Prasad Kharel in further offenses is revealed, a separate investigation report will be submitted in accordance with Section 35 of the Muluki Criminal Procedure Code, 2074.'