Corruption case filed against former engineer

KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former engineer Bishnu Kumar Shrestha, who was affiliated with the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation and its offices, at the Special Court.

According to CIAA spokesperson, Narahari Ghimire, Shrestha has been charged with accumulating Rs 488.3 million from undisclosed sources. In the charge sheet, the constitutional anti-graft body has accused Shrestha of illicitly amassing wealth by colluding with contractors in irrigation and disaster mitigation projects. He used the kickbacks received from them to purchase land and houses in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and other areas, invest in various companies and conceal assets under the names of relatives.

The CIAA has claimed that assets in the names of his wife Laxmi Kumari, father Hari Kumar, mother Indra Kumari and son Bivek were purchased using money that he accumulated by abusing his position in public office.

In the charge sheet, the CIAA has sought to confiscate Shrestha’s assets as per the existing laws.

The CIAA has also named his wife, father, mother and son as defendants in the case.