POKHARA, Sept 20: Former Gandaki Province Health Minister Laxman Bahadur Pandey has been accused of seeking Rs 3 million from Padma Nursing Home Pvt Ltd in Pokhara to renew its upgraded hospital operating permit.
An audio-video recording made public by Gandaki Chhadke appears to show Pandey, his personal secretary Yadav Paudel and Ministry Secretary Yuwanidhi Basoula discussing the alleged payment.
The nursing home had upgraded its capacity from 50 to 100 beds and received one-year trial approval. Its renewal application had remained pending for six to seven months over missing documents, according to the hospital.
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In the recording, Pandey says the amount has been settled at Rs 3 million and directs the hospital to discuss further details with Paudel. A later conversation between Paudel and hospital chair Yadav Gautam indicates the amount was negotiated down to Rs 2.5 million.
Paudel says he negotiated the amount at Pandey’s direction and on the secretary’s behalf. Pandey acknowledged that a financial deal was discussed but denied taking a bribe, saying he had only asked Paudel to negotiate so the hospital’s documents could move forward.
Both Pandey and Paudel accused Secretary Basoula of being behind the alleged demand. Basoula denied seeking or taking a bribe, saying he had acted within the law.
Pandey, elected to the Gandaki Provincial Assembly from Nawalpur-2(2) on a CPN-UML ticket, served as health minister for four months and 11 days before resigning on September 10.
The UML Gandaki parliamentary party has formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations and submit its report within 15 days.
