KATHMANDU:- The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has today filed charge sheet at the Special Court against eight high-ranking officers including the then General-Manager of Udayapur Cement Industry.
The charge sheet was filed against them for their involvement in embezzlement of huge quantity of clinker. According to the CIAA, the case was filed after it was confirmed that public property was misused and clinker was embezzled in a planned manner from fiscal year 2074/75 BS to Poush, 2077 BS.
The charge sheet was filed against the then General-Manager Surendra Kumar Poudel, officiating general-secretary Nawal Koshor Saha, Deputy General Manager Mahesh Prasad Kafle, Chief of Production Division, Sanjay Kumar Lal, Chief of Store Division, Mahesh Prasad Sah, Chief of Clinker Production Department, Rabi Chandra Poudel, Chief of Cement Production Department and Chief of Sales Department, Ram Bahadur GC.
According to the CIAA, a lawsuit has been filed demanding reimbursement of Rs 124 million 422 thousand 242 against the then General Manager Poudel and Rs 126 million 369 thousand 168 against Deputy General Manager Kafle for embezzlement.
Similarly, a case has been filed claiming compensation of Rs 465 million 274 thousand 426 against other individuals including Officiating General Manager Saha.
The press release issued by the Commission mentions that through mutual collusion and planned misconduct, the accused misused public property under their responsibility, causing serious financial damage to the industry.
The CIAA has filed charges against them under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, demanding compensation, imprisonment, and fines.
The Commission stated that its investigation was based on the annual stock records of clinker, physical test reports, audit reports of the Office of the Auditor General, and the investigation reports of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.
It is stated in the CIAA press release that according to those documents, there is an unnatural and significant difference between the stock shown on paper by the industry and the actual physical stock.