Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against seven people over alleged irregularities in contract awards and revenue collection from livestock, goat and Gudri markets in Siraha by Golbazar Municipality.
The anti-graft body filed the case at the Special Court in Kathmandu on Tuesday. They have been charged with causing a loss of Rs 16.05 million in public funds through irregularities in market contracts and revenue collection.
According to the CIAA, the defendants include Golbazar Municipality’s former Mayor Devnath Sahu Teli, former Deputy Mayor Resham Kumari Thapa, former Chief Administrative Officer Shridhar KC, Anant Kumar Poudyal, Acting Chief Administrative Officer Ramnarayan Mahato, former Revenue Section Chief Dinesh Kumar Sahani and contractor Birendra Kumar Yadav.
In fiscal year 2020/21, Yadav was awarded the contract to collect revenue from the livestock, goat and Gudri markets operating in wards 6 and 7 of Golbazar Municipality.
The CIAA alleges that a municipal executive meeting decided to waive Rs 2.73 million in revenue by violating the municipality’s Economic Act and prevailing laws.
Although local governments can grant tax exemptions only through their municipal assemblies in exceptional circumstances, the CIAA said the municipal executive itself granted the exemption.
The CIAA concluded that the total amount involved in the alleged irregularities was Rs 16.05 million, comprising Rs 2.73 million in revenue waived in fiscal year 2020/21 and Rs 13.31 million in revenue left uncollected in fiscal year 2021/22.
The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 16.05 million each from former Mayor Teli, former Deputy Mayor Thapa, former Chief Administrative Officer KC and former Revenue Section Chief Sahani. It has also sought additional punishment for Teli under Section 24 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for offenses committed while holding public office.
