CIAA Files Corruption Case Against Former Ministers Rajkumar Gupta and Ranjita Shrestha

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has lodged a corruption case at the Special Court against former Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta, former minister and Nagarik Unmukti Party chair Ranjita Shrestha, and five others in connection with an alleged bribe negotiation audio recording.

According to the CIAA, the accused were found attempting to broker a bribe deal for the transfer of Ram Chandra Adhikari, the then Chief of the Kaski Land Revenue Office, and his appointment to the Land Commission.

The anti-graft body has demanded a recovery of Rs 7.8 million each from Gupta and Shrestha. Similarly, recoveries have been sought from Ram Chandra Adhikari (Rs 5.3 million), Sujan Kumar Tamang (Rs 7.8 million), Khambahadur Pun (Rs 2.5 million), Yam Kumari Gurung (Rs 7.8 million), and Tulsiram Budha (Rs 7.8 million).

The case stems from an audio recording that went viral earlier this year, purportedly revealing discussions about exchanging bribes for lucrative government transfers.