Eight sued for fraud using Nepal Bal Sangathan land and budget

Kathmandu. A case has been filed in the Kathmandu District Court against 8 people on charges of fraud by misappropriating the land and government budget of Nepal Bal Sangathan (Bal Mandir) for personal gain.

The District Government Attorney's Office has filed a charge sheet accusing the then officials and employees of the organization of embezzling funds and assets that should have been used for the benefit of orphaned children. The case has been filed in the Kathmandu District Court on charges of fraud based on the investigation report conducted by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police.

Among those sued are Asha Shrestha, the then planning chief of Bal Mandir and currently a member of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 11, Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, the then secretary of the Kathmandu District Committee, and Om Krishna Karmacharya, the then chairman of the Lalitpur District Committee. All three have already been arrested by the police. Similarly, cases have also been filed against the absconding Yuree Kumari Rai, the then chairperson, Deepakdas Shrestha, the then treasurer, Prayagraj Shrestha, the then treasurer, Bhagwan Shakya, the then chairperson, and Ramkrishna Chitrakar, the then advisor.

The then central chairperson of the organization, Rita Singh Vaidya, who played a key role in this case, has already passed away, so she has not been made a defendant. The case has been registered based on the report of the High-Level Investigation Commission, 2077, and the police investigation.

According to the CIB's investigation report, it was found that the then chairperson Rita Singh had taken Rs 7.5 million in cash by agreeing to rent out 29 ropanis of Bal Mandir land in Nakshal to Manoj Kumar Mishra without any public notice or competition. In addition, it has been found that the accused used funds from the treasury, which should have been spent for the benefit of children, for their own treatment, family bereavement expenses, and personal vehicle purchases.

In the vehicle purchase scam, it was found that Rajendra Kumar Shrestha bought a vehicle in his name and paid its installments from the Bal Mandir fund, and that vehicle was personally used by the then chairperson Bhagwan Shakya.

Furthermore, it has been found that Asha Shrestha continued to receive a monthly amount in the name of 'transport allowance' against the rules from Bal Mandir even after being elected to public office (ward member).