Pradeep Adhikari Plans to Oust Sushil Karki Government and Appoint Himself as Tourism Minister

Summary of the News: Technical investigations have revealed that Pradeep Adhikari has devised a plan to overthrow the Sushil Karki-led government and form a new administration. WhatsApp conversations disclosed that Adhikari intended to generate $100,000 by conducting technical landings of two aircraft registered in Africa at Tribhuvan International Airport. Adhikari also planned a business worth 9.9 billion NPR through non-banking channels, although he claimed that this was government-related business. April 8, Kathmandu – Pradeep Adhikari, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), currently suspended and detained, has been found through technical investigations to be plotting to overthrow the interim government led by Sushil Karki and install a new government. Due to dissatisfaction with the Karki government’s performance, Adhikari, while in Dubai, revealed his plans in WhatsApp conversations.

Investigations into money laundering, assassination attempts, and organized crime further uncovered that Adhikari aims to become the Tourism Minister in the new government that would succeed Karki’s. This was confirmed through WhatsApp chats with CAAN staff member Chandamala Shrestha on November 16, in which it was stated, ‘Our Prime Minister will come this week, the current Prime Minister will be removed, the CAAN DG will overthrow the government, this is true; that’s why I am in Dubai, and the Lukla issue is also true.’ The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) was investigating Adhikari for corruption; however, lacking prospects for resolving the case quietly, Adhikari resorted to plans to replace the government, as revealed by the conversations.

Technical investigations also revealed Adhikari’s use of intermediaries to suppress the CIAA case, threats, and engagement in questionable occult practices. Discussions about conducting technical landings of planes also surfaced. On September 21, 2018, Adhikari communicated via WhatsApp with his friend Arjun Kumar Khadka, residing in the United States, about arranging technical landings for two African-registered airplanes at Tribhuvan International Airport. Further conversations disclosed plans to collect $100,000. Adhikari mentioned having 30-40 heavy suitcases carried by a person named Jenu. According to a DNA Fingerprint Lab (DFL) report, on October 9, 2018, there was a WhatsApp chat between Adhikari and his wife, Sufal KC, in which he noted that Jenu had carried the suitcases.

In his statement, Adhikari claimed, ‘After the Jenu movement, I received two threats to kill, attack, and burn down my house. For security, I gave important documents to my wife disguised as jewelry and entrusted them to Jenu.’ Despite these threats, there was no formal complaint filed, and his explanation of handing over suitcases containing large amounts of money to others was considered weak by investigators. It was also discovered that Jenu was forced to change his mobile number, aiding the understanding of Adhikari’s financial irregularities. Reports indicate that Adhikari planned to hide at an apartment besides his office in Satdobato and pressured for renovations to be completed quickly. Chats between Adhikari and Jenu illustrate, ‘The apartment is delayed, work has not yet started. Keep everything ready. We will have to move soon.’ The police have interpreted these actions as attempts to evade investigation and conceal evidence. Adhikari asserted in his statement that security threats prompted his change of location. Furthermore, conversations detail the country’s unstable situation, expectations that the current government would be replaced by a new prime minister, and plans to stay in the apartment until then.

Discussions concerning a 9.9 billion NPR transaction were also found in Adhikari’s WhatsApp chats. On October 12, 2018, he communicated with CAAN employee Chandamala Shrestha as follows: ‘I will transfer money through escrow accounting; the deadline is the 11th, but there is a 2–3 day holiday, so I am telling you today: 9.9 billion.’ This conversation clearly shows attempts to conduct financial transactions through non-banking channels. However, Adhikari claimed that this was a government transaction connected to the repayment of loans and interest for Pokhara Airport under an agreement between the Government of Nepal, China’s Exim Bank, and CAAN.