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KATHMANDU, June 16: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the Special Court’s decision to acquit five defendants in the high-profile Surakshan printing press corruption case.
The anti-graft body expressed dissatisfaction with the May 22 verdict, which convicted four out of nine accused and acquitted the rest, arguing that there was sufficient evidence to prove corruption against all.
CIAA files corruption case against Bikal Paudel, director of Se...
Among those convicted were Bikal Paudel, former executive director of the Surakshan Printing Center; Nabin Kumar Pokharel; Rohitman Pradhan; and Bhuvan Maharjan. The five acquitted were Ramesh Prasad Pokhrel, Manikman Maharjan, Shirish Upadhyay, Ram Bahadur Budha, and Mitralal Guraun.
The CIAA had initially filed the case against nine individuals on April 15, 2024, alleging corruption in the procurement of equipment for the Surakshan printing facility. A separate case was filed on May 12, 2024, involving five other officials, including then-executive director Paudel and Akbar Hossain, CEO of Max International, the contractor accused of colluding in the procurement process.
The CIAA alleges that the procurement process was manipulated to favor Max International, violating public procurement laws and causing a loss of Rs 690 million to the state.
