KATHMANDU, August 4: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) registered a corruption case against six people including the then secretary of Madhesh Province at the Special Court in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The CIAA has accused them of carrying out financial irregularities worth Rs 103.3 million in the name of the Beti Padhau, Beti Bachau (Educate Daughters, Save Daughters) campaign.
The constitutional anti-corruption watchdog has claimed that there are irregularities in the Beti Padhau, Beti Bachau campaign which became very popular in Madhesh Province. As part of the campaign, branded bicycles were said to be distributed to female students in the province. The CIAA has registered a corruption case after it was found that despite the amount paid according to the agreement to buy branded bicycles, sub-standard bicycles were brought and the purchased bicycles were stored in the warehouse for three months.
The then secretary Yam Prasad Bhusal of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Madhesh Province, CDE Bhagwan Jha, a sub-accountant, Executive Director of Om Satya Sai Pvt Ltd Birgunj, Renu Agarwal, among others, have been indicted in the corruption case. The CIAA has claimed that from the beginning of the bicycle purchase process to the payment, the employees and suppliers have embezzled millions of rupees with ill intentions and caused harm to the government.
Similarly, a separate charge sheet has been registered against the members of the bid evaluation committee of Madhesh Province, the then under secretary Dilip Kumar Pradhan, CDE Jha, an officer, and a sub-accountant for preparing false reports as well.
Under Secretary Pradhan, who was also the chairman of the Bid Evaluation Committee, Member Secretary Surendra Kumar Karna, Sub Accountant Rajaram Mandal, have been found to have prepared a sub-standard and false report for the bidders.