Gyanendra Bahadur Karki Says Teramox Decision Was to Follow Court Order, Not to Breach Privacy

Former Minister for Information and Communications, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, has clarified that his decision related to the controversial Teramox system was made only to implement a Supreme Court order, not to breach citizens’ privacy or commit corruption. Furnishing his clarification to the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Karki said the court had directed the government to complete the procurement process, and he approved the supplementary budget as part of that legal obligation.

Karki stated that the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), an autonomous body, handles its own programs and budgets. He emphasized that the proposal reached him after undergoing proper checks and technical reviews. “I was not involved in the purchase decision itself. I only fulfilled my duty based on the court instruction,” he said. He added that the Ministry of Communication, which he headed, was not directly engaged in the procurement.

Addressing concerns about violation of privacy, Karki made it clear that he never intended to harm anyone’s rights. “I can’t even imagine being involved in breaching people’s fundamental rights,” he said. He also noted that call details can only be accessed with court approval, particularly for criminal investigations.

The CIAA has decided not to file a corruption case against Karki, stating there was no evidence of wrongdoing. It concluded that the steps he took were in continuation of previous government decisions, not new initiatives. “I’ve always worked for the best interest of the country,” Karki said, defending his long political career.