KATHMANDU: Bishnukumar Shrestha, a former engineer at the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, is the target of a corruption case brought by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) at the Special Court. The case alleges that Shrestha accumulated assets that were out of proportion to his income. The case focuses on claims of power abuse leading to illegal wealth acquisition.
According to the CIAA's inquiry, as of July 15, 2020, Shrestha has earned a total of Rs 112.565 million since he began working for the government on July 14, 1989. His entire investments and expenses during this time period, however, came to Rs 161.395 million, leaving an inexplicable difference of Rs 48.83 million.
The commission came to the conclusion that Shrestha had abused his official position to amass this inexplicable fortune through illicit means. He has been charged under corruption statutes as a result, and the CIAA is pursuing severe punishment against him.
CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire said that Shrestha's family members were also part of the investigation, including his wife, Laxmi Kumari Shrestha; father, Hari Kumar Shrestha; mother, Indra Kumari Shrestha; and son, Bivek Shrestha. These relatives allegedly benefited financially from the unlawfully acquired assets.
The examination revealed properties and investments in the names of Shrestha's family members, indicating that the assets were dispersed purposefully to hide their illicit origin. With this material, the CIAA's case against Shrestha is strengthened.
In addition to imposing a punishment of Rs 48.83 million, the CIAA has asked the court to order the forfeiture of the assets that were obtained illegally. This sum represents the discrepancy between Shrestha's entire assets and his legitimate income.
The case reflects the CIAA's commitment to combating corruption and holding public officials accountable for financial misconduct, emphasizing the importance of transparency and integrity in public service.
