Graft case filed against Bagmati Municipality Mayor, Deputy Mayor

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Tuesday lodged a corruption case at the Special Court against Bagmati Municipality, Sarlahi Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa, Deputy Mayor Lila Kumari Moktan, then Chief Administrative Officer Bimal Kumar Pokharel and three others.

The graft case was also filed against chief of the municipality's Planning Section Sagar Poudel, Accounts Officer Bishwaraj Pokharel and former Chief of Sarlahi District Coordination Committee Methur Chaudhary, according to CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire. 

The CIAA filed the case against them for their alleged involvement in embezzling public property, preparing fake reports and documents. The CIAA has sought Rs 303 million in fine from five of the accused, while a jail sentence has been sought against Methur Chaudhary.

They were accused of embezzling public property while selling stones, pebbles, sand and other river bed materials, which was extracted while constructing the Bagmati Fish Pond.