ANNFSU Chair Badal accuses KMC Mayor Balen Shah of Rs 130 million fraud

KATHMANDU, Sept 17: Samik Badal, the chairman of the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), has accused Kathmandu Metropolitan city’s Mayor Balendra Shah of fraud, claiming he embezzled Rs 130 million. 

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Badal alleged that the mayor siphoned off Rs 130 million under the pretext of a "Skills Fair". He further claimed that the metropolis allocated Rs 130 million to a cyber group for the event without proper approval from the city council. 

Badal wrote, "Without city council’s approval, you stole Rs 130 million of taxpayers’ money for the Skills Fair. This program isn't listed in the 2023/24 fiscal year’s budget of the metropolis. Payments made by the finance department show that to bypass the Public Procurement Act, you split Rs 130 million into smaller payments of Rs 1 million each, providing funds to your secretariat and Facebook page supporters." 

He also questioned the impact of the Skills Fair, asking how many individuals learned useful skills or started businesses as a result. Badal challenged Mayor Shah to name those who benefited from the fair on social media.