KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has started interrogating Gopal Bahadur Khadka, the corruption-accused former chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), over his alleged involvement in a multi-million land purchase scam.
Khadka, the then managing director of NOC, was summoned by the constitutional anti-graft body following the interrogation of nearly 200 landowners, land brokers and junior officials of NOC. "After carrying out the interrogation of several individuals accused in the faulty land purchase deals, we have started interrogating the board members of NOC. He [Khadka] also came to CIAA and investigators have started recording his statement over the allegations of his involvement in the scam," said CIAA Spokesperson Padam Prasad Pandey.
Khadka is furnishing his statement in writing. "It may take a few more days to complete this process," said Spokesperson Pandey. The NOC board headed by the Supplies Secretary includes senior officials from the supplies ministry and NOC officials together with the trade union leader.
After preliminary investigation into the matter, CIAA investigators have concluded that irregularities are visible in the land procurement deals. They suspect the involvement of higher authorities including the line minister and political class in the faulty land procurement deal. "We are investigating the matter and will let none walk scot-free if they are found involved," said Pandey.
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Khadka has been accused of embezzling millions of rupees in collusion with land brokers while procuring land plots across the country to build fuel storage facilities for NOC.
The NOC had allocated Rs 6 billion to procure land plots in all seven provinces for expanding its storage facilities. Among these provinces, pieces of land worth Rs 1.61 billion have already been purchased in Rupandehi, Chitwan, Sarlahi and Jhapa districts. There has been foul play in the transactions as the NOC has paid Rs 670 million more than the going rates.
Collaborating with local land mafia, Khadka had paid three times higher price in some areas as compared to the local land price. Parliamentary committees and locals argue that Khadka pocketed millions of rupees in procuring the land plots.
In July last year, Republica had published an exclusive story about how Khadka had embezzled millions of rupees in the land procurement scam. Later in September, the cabinet sacked Khadka from his position on the charge of his involvement in financial irregularities.
Parliamentary committees have also accused Khadka of being involved in irregularities. They have demanded action against him.
Corruption-accused Khadka, however, moved the court seeking his continuation as NOC chief. The court reinstated him although the government has not allowed him to work at the NOC.
