The CIAA is investigating the case for the last one month. CIAA has already grilled five senior police officers involved in the deal.
“The investigation till date shows that the chief of the police was also involved in signing the documents while awarding the jacket supply deal,” a source said, adding, “Therefore, we are making last preparations to call him for clarifications.”
Police source confirmed that CIAA had in advance hinted that it would call the IGP. Top police officers including the chief of procurement division, Ramesh Bikram Shah, were grilled by CIAA last week.
Those who were grilled recently defended themselves that the process of selection of the supplier was done with good intention, said a CIAA source.
Acting CIAA chief Lalit Bahadur Limbu said they can summon anyone as and when needed under the existing laws. Asked about the possibility of calling IGP, Limbu said, “I can never rule out the possibility but at the same time I cannot tell you about the exact preparations of investigation.”
CIAA had raided Nepal Police headquarters and seized important documents related to the purchase a month ago after receiving complaints of irregularities worth Rs 50 million while procuring 56,059 pieces of jackets.
The procurement division at the police headquarters had awarded a tender worth Rs 100 million to Ananda Trade Concern (ATC) to supply the jackets some two months ago, while denying the contract to the lowest bidder.
CIAA source revealed that a cheque for Rs 100 million was issued in the name of ATC before the company supplied the jackets. “Our investigation showed that the cheque was issued in haste as it had to be issued before the end of last fiscal year. The source also claimed that the CIAA has seized the cheque and there is no possibility of further embezzlement in the case.
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