Officials Charged for Forgery and Embezzlement of Disability Funds

Kathmandu. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court, Kathmandu, against employees of Pokhariya Municipality in Parsa for allegedly embezzling government funds by forging documents and distributing disability identity cards. The CIAA filed the case on Thursday against the then sixth-level officer of Pokhariya Municipality, Sanjay Kumar Pandey, employee Ambika Mahato Khulwat working in the disability branch, and Mahendra Raut Kurmi, a recipient of social security allowance. The CIAA had initiated an investigation based on a complaint that government funds were misused by altering disability identity cards through collusion between municipal employees and service recipients. During the investigation, it was confirmed that the then officer Pandey and employee Khulwat intentionally tampered with government records in collusion and conspiracy with the defendant Mahendra Raut Kurmi. Based on Kurmi's health examination report, the disability coordination committee of Pokhariya Municipality had classified him as 'Ga' category disabled on October 11, 2078 BS. According to the procedure, individuals receiving 'Ga' category cards were not eligible for social security allowance. However, the accused, despite knowing this, intentionally tampered with and altered official public records. The CIAA stated that they created a 'Ka' category, or red card, which is eligible for the allowance, prepared and certified false documents, and illegally gained a total of Rs 191,520. Spokesperson Suresh Neupane informed that a case has been filed at the Special Court today with a claim for punishment against the defendants involved in embezzling funds from the government treasury.