KATHMANDU, April 11: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dr Dhaka Kumar Shrestha has furnished written explanation to the party’s Discipline and Conduct Committee after an audio tape of him bargaining for Rs 20 million with the controversial medical entrepreneur Durga Prasain went viral in social media.
The RSP had earlier sought explanation from lawmaker Dr Shrestha following the controversy. He submitted a four-page long explanation to the Committee led by Dr Bharatmani Devkota through email on Monday.
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"We have come to learn that he (Dhaka) has sent a four-page explanation via email," confirmed an RSP lawmaker. "But I do not have further information about his clarification."
The Discipline and Conduct Committee headed by Dr Devkota has Ramhari Subedi, Ramakant Rimal and Yagyamani Neupane as its members. Based on the decision of this committee, RSP will take further action against Shrestha.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Shrestha in a statement had claimed that the voice of the audio was a fake one. In the audio, Shrestha is heard saying that he needed Rs 20 million for the core team members of RSP President Rabi Lamichhane. He is heard pledging Prasain to help him when he will become the health minister.