Kathmandu, February 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has launched a probe into the audiotape scandal involving a former minister of communications and information technology Gokul Prasad Baskota after receiving several complaints regarding the same.
Baskota resigned from his post on Thursday (Feb 20) following the release of the audiotape in which he is heard bargaining for Rs 700 million as kick back with a Swiss equipment supplier in the government contract pertaining to the security printing press.
The complaint was filed jointly by Pritam Subedi of Sunsari and Bijay Babu Siwakoti from Dolakha against Baskota and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Similarly, another complaint was registered by former journalist Prem Bahadur Shahi and former bureaucrat Ananda Ram Poudel against Oli, Banskota, secretary Mahendra Bahadur Gurung and Nepal Security Press CEO Bikal Paudel.
CIAA Spokesperson Pradeep Kumar Koirala said that the anti-graft body has received the complaints and will initiate an investigation as per the prevailing law.
The complainants have sought CIAA investigation against Baskota as per Section 3 (1) and (4), and Section 24 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-2002, which states that— “whoever, being, or expecting to become a public servant accepts or agrees to accept graft… shall be liable to a punishment of imprisonment and fine”.
Section 3(1) of the act pertains to a public servant accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe. Clause I of the section states that if the amount is more than Rs 10 million, the imprisonment term will be eight to ten years. Section 3(4) relates to the person offering bribe and quantum of punishment if convicted.
The complainants have also demanded an investigation against PM Oli as per Section 44 of the act. As per it, if the chief of a government body or public institution receives any information regarding corruption at his office or any other office under him, they must immediately take all related documents into his custody and keep them safe.
The law states, “After inquiring with the persons and officials related to such subject and upon having known the reality, if there appears any reason for the commission of corruption, he or she shall forward such documents to the concerned body for investigation and inquiry.”
