Kailali police inspector suspended following corruption case

Dhangadhi: Inspector Pushkar Raj Pant of the Area Police Office, Malakheti, Kailali, has been suspended after being implicated in a corruption case.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 33 individuals, including Pant, over allegations of accepting bribes during the distribution of driving licenses. Four traffic policemen and other officials, including those linked to irregularities at the Transport Management Office, Banke, have also been named as defendants.

Pant, who was previously chief of the District Traffic Police Office, Banke, is accused of manipulating results of written and practical driving exams and taking illegal benefits. Cases have also been filed against Senior Deputy Inspector of Police Pravin Acharya, Nanda Kumar Pokharel, and Sharad Kumar Gorathoki, operator of New Mama Bhanja Motor Driving Training Center.

During the investigation, Shakti Thakur, Computer Officer of the Transport Management Office, Banke, Assistant Computer Operator Manoj Giri, operator Gorathoki, and the then Deputy Subba Mukundaraj KC were arrested and interrogated. The CIAA reported that evidence shows collusion to collect bribes and facilitate passing the exams.

According to the investigation, 27,773 driving licenses of various categories were issued during their tenure, with bribes collected ranging from Rs 10,000 to 24,000 per license, totaling Rs 84,34,300. Some defendants have been fined significant amounts as part of the proceedings.

Additionally, current Lamjung Chief District Officer Umesh Dhungana and Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Lumbini Province, Lok Bahadur Sunar, have been implicated. The CIAA alleged that they were involved in corruption while serving as heads of the Transport Management Office, Nepalgunj, Banke. The investigation was initiated following a complaint concerning the registration of three stolen Indian vehicles.

A case has been formally registered in court, naming government employees of various ranks and other individuals as defendants.