Minister Adhikari denies involvement in bribery case

KATHMANDU: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari has claimed that he has no involvement in the recent bribery case.

Speaking at a press conference held at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Adhikari insisted that he has been dragged into the controversy as part of a character assassination campaign. Denying any connection to the controversial audio recording, Adhikari said the incident was an attempt to tarnish his reputation.

He categorically stated that the audio recording is neither related to him nor to his ministry and that the voice in the clip is not his. “The individuals heard in the audio are not connected to us. That is not my voice,” Adhikari said.

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Raj Kumar Gupta, resigned from his position on Tuesday after the audio clip surfaced. In the audio, an individual believed to be Gupta is heard saying that Minister Adhikari had already accepted money but was unwilling to carry out the promised work.

This has led to growing calls for his resignation and a formal investigation into his alleged involvement.

Minister Adhikari claimed that those who failed to get their way have resorted to character assassination. “They came with personal interests, but I rejected their demands,” Adhikari said. “These things began to emerge after I said no.”