KATHMANDU, April 3: A cybercrime case has been initiated against a Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) office employee who wrote on social media accusing the Mayor of Kathmandu, Balen Shah, of embezzling Rs 1 billion.

Fifty-year-old Ram Prasad Paudel, a resident of Mauwakhola Rural Municipality-1, Taplejung, working in the Health Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City office, has been charged with crime under the Cyber Act.

It is alleged that Paudel wrote on the social media platform Facebook, stating that Balen Shah had misused his power by appointing hundreds of employees and embezzling Rs 1 billion.

He wrote, “Those 166 people appointed by Mayor Balen should return around Rs 1 billion taken as their salaries for two years, which is the tax paid by the city’s citizens.”

On behalf of Mayor Balen, Sasmit Pokharel filed a complaint at the District Police Complex Kathmandu for insulting the mayor by making false accusations.

Paudel, who was accused of writing on social media, had been working in the health department of the municipal corporation for the past 21 years. At the same time, he was suspended on January 1. Paudel was previously convicted of the crime of obtaining citizenship and a passport through forgery. The Kathmandu District Court on January 18, 2021, imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 against him.

A case has been filed in the Kathmandu District Court by making Paudel a fugitive defendant who has been absconding.

 
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