Sunil Sapkota

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Govt’s decision to bear treatment costs of Ex-PM Khanal against law

Published On: July 7, 2021 04:48 PM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, July 7: The treatment cost of former Prime Minister (PM) Jhalanath Khanal is to be borne by the government. It has been learnt that a cabinet meeting held on June 21 took a decision to this effect.

Save the Children faked data to receive Rs. 230 million from the Global Fund, says Health Ministry

Published On: August 26, 2020 10:33 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Aug 26: The Health Ministry has suspected Save the Children, Nepal of cheating The Global Fund for years over the data of the HIV infected Nepalis. According to the Ministry, the organization has faked the data to secure big funds. The organization received 230 million rupees with the help of fake data.

Govt authorities trying to exonerate Esewa from charge of carrying out illegal bitcoin business

Published On: June 26, 2020 05:26 PM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, June 26: It has been revealed that government authorities have tried to exonerate Esewa – a digital wallet company – from the charge of carrying out the business of banned crypto currency ‘bitcoin’ in Nepal.

Huge price difference in health equipment purchased by Army and Department of Health Services

Published On: June 8, 2020 09:50 PM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, June 8: It has been found that there is a huge price difference in the same amount of health equipment purchased by two different government bodies to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior officials at PMO blocking blacklisting of Omni

Published On: April 17, 2020 07:00 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, April 17: Although the government had decided to blacklist the Omni Business Corporate International Private Limited, officials have been dilly-dallying to implement the decision amid alleged pressure from “people” at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM).

Payment gateway bought for Rs 250 million dumped to promote eSewa

Published On: April 7, 2020 08:32 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, April 7: It has been learnt that Prime Minister's Information Technology Consultant Asgar Ali has been promoting his private company -- eSewa -- by stopping the operation of a payment gateway system purchased earlier by the government for Rs 250 million.

Panic spikes as PM's IT guru Ali has access to people's private data

Published On: April 4, 2020 08:10 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, April 4: ExtensoData, the prime minister's IT consultant Asgar Ali's data company, has many senior government officials worried over 'possible misuse of government data'. ExtensoData, established in 2018, is one of many subsidiaries of F1Soft International, where Ali is vice president. It has been previously reported in media that Ali has been accessing people's vital data since long back.The recent incident of his alleged involvement in the unauthorized removal of a news story from Kathmandupress.com has raised eyebrows.

Omni Group involved in price gouging of medical supplies from China has a long history

Published On: March 31, 2020 07:55 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, March 31: The Omni Group which was awarded the contract to supply various medical equipment and logistics to control the coronavirus (COVID-19) by the government at exorbitantly higher prices is found to have been involved in similar controversial procurement deals with the Election Commission (EC) when the Group supplied faulty printing machines to the EC at higher prices.

Medical suppliers accuse Health Ministry of bypassing competitive bidding process to favor certain business group

Published On: March 30, 2020 10:01 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, March 30: Although officials at Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) claimed that they decided to procure medical supplies without following competitive bidding process, medical suppliers in the country have dismissed the claim, saying that sealed quotation invited by the ministry was ignored in collusion with certain business group.

Financial irregularities suspected in procurement of medical equipment from China

Published On: March 29, 2020 06:50 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, March 29: It has been revealed that the medical equipment and other logistics that the government has procured from China for the treatment of coronavirus-infected patients have been purchased at exorbitantly high prices, raising serious concerns over massive financial irregularities in the deal.

2.5 million MRP booklets contract going to French firm without bids

Published On: February 23, 2020 08:15 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The government has initiated a G2G (government to government) deal with a French company for the purchase of machine-readable passport (MRP) booklets, according to multiple sources.

Minister Baskota himself acted as agent in procurement

Published On: February 21, 2020 08:45 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Feb 21: Outgoing communications minister Gokul Baskota engaged in direct correspondence with the French company INGroupe for procuring a security printing press, it is learnt.

Govt rejects Swiss offer for security press under BOOT model

Published On: February 20, 2020 08:15 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: The government has expedited the process for a government to government (G2G) deal on setting up a security printing press without conducting any study of correspondence by the Investment Board-Nepal (IBN) regarding another proposal it received from a Swiss company.

Parliament body questions choice of firms for security printing

Published On: February 19, 2020 08:05 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: A parliamentary panel has raised questions over the eligibility of companies that have been proposed for setting up security printing facilities in Nepal.

Purchase of security press through G2G deal to cost Rs 7b more

Published On: January 9, 2020 07:55 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Jan 9: The government has expedited the process to procure a security printing press worth billions of rupees without competitive bidding process in the name of government to government (G2G) deal.

Yeti Holdings eyeing Hima Griha in Pokhara

Published On: December 29, 2019 07:53 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Dec 29: Yeti Holdings, which secured leases and a lease extension for prime properties belonging to the Nepal Trust such as Gokarna Forest Resort and land on Durbarmarg and in Kalimati at bargain-basement rates, has initiated quiet political maneuverings to secure a lease on yet another prime property belonging to the Trust, in Pokhara.

How Yeti Group benefited from its connections with PM Oli

Published On: December 23, 2019 09:15 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Dec 23: A chronology of the events showcases how Yeti Group, owned by late Ang Tshering Sherpa, has benefited from its political connections. Prime Minister KP Oli and Sherpa’s relationship goes back to decades. Prime Minister Oli’s close associates say he was “deeply pained” by the sudden death of Sherpa, along with Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari, in a helicopter crash earlier this year.

NCP head office housed illegally in Pasang Lhamu Foundation building

Published On: December 21, 2019 08:09 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: The headquarters of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) at Dhumbarahi in the capital are housed illegally in a building owned by the Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation.

Yeti Holdings secures 25 year lease extension of Gokarna Forest Resort

Published On: December 15, 2019 06:47 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Dec 15: The government has extended lease period of Gokarna Forest Resort to Yeti Holdings Private Limited for another 25 years.

Annual rent of Durbarmarg land worth billions is just Rs 5 million

Published On: November 15, 2019 07:45 AM NPT By: Sunil Sapkota

KATHMANDU, Nov 15: In yet another instance of the misuse of political power, a sister company of Yeti Holdings Private Limited is found to have secured a huge area of land in the prime location of Durbarmarg in the capital belonging to Nepal Trust, at an unbelievably low rent.