Corruption Case Against Pashupati Area Development Trust Former Member Secretary Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa and 13 Others Set for Hearing

Kathmandu. A corruption case against former Pashupati Area Development Trust Member Secretary Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa and 14 others has been scheduled for hearing. The hearing is scheduled in the bench of Special Court Chairman Sudarshan Dev Bhatta and Member Bidur Koirala.

The case has named Member Secretary Dr. Thapa, former acting Member Secretary Rajukumar Khatri, former Executive Director Ghanshyam Khatiwada, current Deputy Director Revatiraman Adhikari, former acting Deputy Director Sitaram Risal, engineers Pashupati Thakur, Denis Upreti, Ramesh Puri, and others as defendants.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had filed a corruption case against Member Secretary Thapa and 14 others on June 8, 2082, in the Pashupati cremation machine purchase case. The defendants are accused of preparing an unusually high cost estimate by showing the cremation machine, worth Indian Rupees 3.25 million, as costing Nepali Rupees 15.2 million, and adding exemptions provided by prevailing law to the cost estimate.

The charge sheet mentions that the necessary technical documents, competitive bidding, and site inspection for the purchase were not conducted. The charge sheet also states that an advance payment of 18.2 million was made without completing the work mentioned in the contract agreement.