Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s anti-corruption watchdog, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), has filed a corruption and money laundering case against senior bureaucrat Jhalakram Adhikari, accusing him of accepting Rs 7 million (Rs 70 lakh) in bribes while serving as Director General of the Department of Revenue Investigation Nepal.
The case has been registered at the Special Court Nepal after investigators concluded that the bribe money was allegedly used for land purchase and loan repayment through intermediaries.
According to the CIAA’s charge sheet, the alleged bribe was received while Adhikari was leading the Department of Revenue Investigation in 2079 BS (2022).
The anti-graft body claims the payment was made by businessman Shrikrishna Shrestha, operator of HK Enterprises, a company that had come under investigation for revenue leakage and tax evasion.
Investigators allege the payment was made in exchange for protection from legal action related to the case.
The CIAA claims the Rs 7 million was transferred and managed through associates including Bikash Chapagain, Devendra KC and Rabindra Lamichhane.
According to the investigation report submitted to the court, the funds were allegedly deposited into accounts controlled by the associates and later used to purchase five ana of land in the Divyashwori project area in Bhaktapur.
Authorities further claim part of the money was used to repay a loan related to The Kuti Resort, a business where Devendra KC serves as director.
The CIAA states the incident dates back to Shrawan 2079 BS, only about a month after Adhikari assumed office as Director General.
He held the post at the Department of Revenue Investigation from 1 Asar 2079 to 16 Kartik 2079, serving for approximately five and a half months.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged bribery took place shortly after he took charge of the department.
Investigators noted that Adhikari was appointed to the powerful revenue enforcement position during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, reportedly through political connections linked to the Deuba family.
The CIAA has accused Adhikari of corruption for accepting bribes and money laundering for concealing illegally obtained assets through third parties and financial transactions.
The case will now proceed through judicial review at the Special Court, which handles corruption cases involving public officials in Nepal.
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