Seeks Rs 40.29 million in fines and two year jail-term
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Jan 30: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Monday filed yet another corruption case against Chudamani Sharma, the suspended Director General of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), accusing him of accumulating property worth over Rs 40 million through illegal means.
The charge-sheet filed at the Special Court states that Sharma, who has already been facing accusations of embezzling Rs 10 billion while settling tax dues of controversial business firms, has amassed property illegally. After going through the property details of corruption-accused Sharma, CIAA officials have concluded that he has amassed property worth Rs 40.29 million illegally.
CIAA readies new graft case against Sharma
According to the charge-sheet, Sharma has earned a total of Rs 30.63 million after joining the government service but his total property is worth Rs 70.93 million. The Sharma family has been accused of spending millions of illegally earned wealth in social extravaganza, purchasing land, and shares of banks and financial institutions.
The CIAA has sought Rs 40.29 million in fine from Sharma and a two-year jail term for him. However, Sharma has gone out of contact, according to CIAA officials.
CIAA Spokesperson Padam Prasad Sharma said an arrest warrant has been issued to catch him and hold him accountable for corruption. Police, however, have not yet been able to produce him before the anti-graft body.
In mid-July last year, the CIAA had filed a corruption case against Sharma, and two other officials of the Tax Settlement Commission - the commission's chief Lumbadhwaj Mahat and member Umesh Prasad Dhakal - accusing them of embezzling Rs 10.02 billion while settling tax dues of 45 companies.
Of the total 1,069 files, the anti-graft body investigated the files of 45 companies before throwing Sharma behind the bars.He was asked to post Rs 3 billion in bail for his release.
But Sharma moved the Supreme Court, which later ordered the police administration to release him on bail.
His tax misuse related case is under consideration at the Supreme Court.
Sharma who has been accused of the largest corruption scandal ever in Nepal's history was under investigation for possessing wealth amassed through illegal means.
