#news #NepalTelecom #corruption #investigation
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against 18 individuals, including the former Managing Director (then Chief Commercial Officer) of Nepal Telecom, Sunil Paudel, and former Managing Director Sangeeta Pahadi.
According to the spokesperson of the Commission, Rajendrakumar Paudel, the case has been filed on allegations of irregularities in the procurement and sale of GSM mobile, fiber internet, leased lines, wireless services, and more by Nepal Telecom through illegal means. The Commission has mentioned misconduct in relation to the purchase of related equipment and misappropriation of public property.
Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, expressed concern about the implications of such corruption cases on the telecommunications sector and the public trust in government institutions.
In addition to Paudel and Pahadi, the Commission has lodged a claim of NPR 334,817,430 against various other officials, including former Chief Operations Officer Jhawindralal Upadhyay, former Director Vinita Shrestha, Acting Director Amool Pradhan, Manager Devendra Khatiwada, Deputy Manager Rajivkumar Keshi, among others.
The Commission has also highlighted irregularities in the procurement of goods by three Chinese companies and their representatives in Nepal, with a similar claim amounting to NPR 334,817,430.
The CIAA has emphasized its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in public institutions through a unified billing system agreement for a five-year period, aiming to prevent financial losses through collusion among public entities.
Regarding the billing contract issue, Asia Info, a company from Nepal Telecom, had signed a contract worth NPR 3.15 billion for a period of five years, with annual maintenance costs of around NPR 65 million. However, after reviewing the terms of the contract, the CIAA initiated an extensive investigation.
Ramesh Khatri from Kansai Nepal News commented that such cases of corruption not only impact the financial integrity of public institutions but also raise questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in the telecommunications sector.
The decision of the Management Committee to extend the annual maintenance contract for four years in January 2079 had been subject to scrutiny by the authorities. Following the approval of the proposed extension, the CIAA had conducted a thorough investigation into the matter, scrutinizing all relevant documents before filing the case.
—
Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: June 8, 2025 7:00 pm
