Author: space4knews

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against eight individuals from Tribhuvan Janata Secondary School in Rukum West. According to the case, the then principal Hariprasad Khanal and accountant Thakbahadur Budhathoki are each being demanded to pay Rs 1,075,753 in compensation. The CIAA has accused them of fabricating fake bills and vouchers related to the construction of technology-friendly classrooms as part of corruption activities. Dated 23 April, Kathmandu.

The CIAA has filed the case in the Special Court, Kathmandu, against eight accused, including then School Management Committee Chair Khemraj Khadka and principal Hariprasad Khanal of Tribhuvan Janata Secondary School, Rukum West. The charges relate to corrupt practices causing public property damage.

The complaint demands Rs 1,075,753 as compensation from each of the then principal Khanal and accountant Thakbahadur Budhathoki, while office assistants Rama Shah and Gauri Rawat KC are sought to pay Rs 488,811 each. Additionally, Rs 708,811 in compensation has been demanded from Shivprasad Shrestha, proprietor of Digital Computer and Electronics World, located in Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City-6 of Dang.

The Financial Management Committee Chair Khadka, branch officer of Musikot Municipality Binaram Khadka, and IT officer Gopal Oli are to be prosecuted under Section 19 (2) of the Corruption Control Act 2059 (2002). The CIAA alleges they committed corruption by creating forged bills and vouchers for materials procured for the technology-friendly classroom construction and management program during the fiscal year 2078/79 (2021/22).

The Property Investigation Commission, established by the government, has been granted a one-year mandate to complete its investigations. The chairman and members of the commission took their oaths of office and confidentiality on Wednesday. The commission, led by former Supreme Court Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, includes former Appellate Court Chief Justice Purushottam Parajuli, former High Court Justice Chandiraj Dhakal, former Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Ganesh KC, and former Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) Prakash Lamsal.

The Cabinet decided to form the commission during its meeting last week. Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla administered the oath to Chairman Bhandari on Wednesday morning, who in turn administered the oath to the other commission members, as confirmed by commission member Prakash Lamsal. Information regarding the employees and public representatives subject to investigation was provided by government spokesperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Youth and Sports, Sashmit Pokharel.

The commission is tasked with collecting, verifying, and investigating the asset declarations of major political office holders and senior officials who have held public office from 2005/2006 to the current period of 2025/2026. Former Justice Chandiraj Dhakal, a commission member, has confirmed this responsibility but did not disclose further details. Member CA Lamsal stated that relevant details would soon be published in the official gazette.

Krisna Bahadur Karki, Under Secretary and Head of the Legal Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs, also stated that there is no clear information about the commission’s mandate. However, according to government officials who wished to remain anonymous, the mandate prepared for publication in the gazette includes local-level public representatives within the scope of investigation. According to one official, “Assets of the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, as well as local-level chiefs and deputy chiefs will be investigated,” and the mandate also covers representatives and employees at the provincial level.

Summary: KP Sharma Oli, Chairperson of the CPN-UML, has emphasized the necessity of party unity to overcome current challenges. Sending a message on the Nepal Communist Party’s founding day, Oli highlighted the party’s leading role in ending autocracy and establishing the republic. The message was read by party Vice-Chair Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Bhadal’ as Oli is currently unwell and recuperating at home. April 22, Kathmandu.

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli stressed that unity within the party is indispensable for overcoming today’s challenges. Delivering a message for the Nepal Communist Party’s foundation day event, Oli conveyed these remarks. Being unwell, he remained at home but sent the message for the day’s program, which was read aloud by Vice-Chair Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Bhadal’.

“The various movements led by the party have achieved notable successes but have also endured hardships repeatedly. The party has played a leading role in ending autocracy and establishing the republic,” Bhadal said while reading Oli’s message. “It has steered the country towards a prosperous and happy Nepal. Despite numerous adversities, CPN-UML has persevered to reach this point. We must unite to overcome these glorious and historic challenges.” He further remarked that at present, it is imperative to build party unity and move forward to face the challenges.

April 22, Kathmandu – Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), recently stated that the communist movement in Nepal has temporarily suffered a significant setback. Speaking at a ceremony held at the Central Office of the NCP in Parisdanda on the occasion of the party’s foundation day, he emphasized the need to review this setback from a progressive and realistic perspective.

“Currently, the communist movement has experienced a temporary blow. We must conduct a materialist review to identify where the weaknesses lie,” Prachanda expressed. “I believe such setbacks are inevitable from time to time and provide an opportunity to manage the internal dirt and filth.” He also noted that during their time in government participation, much internal cleaning within the party was undertaken.

While he did not explicitly mention that the people have shown hatred towards them, Prachanda conveyed a sense that the public has essentially told them to “wash, cleanse, and come back clean.” He stressed the importance of utilizing this moment to rectify the wrongdoings within the communist party.

“First, the party needs to be reorganized. When the new general convention is held, we are planning to prioritize new, young, and dynamic leadership from the grassroots to the top levels. We, the older generation, are also discussing how to present ourselves in new roles and forms,” Prachanda informed. He mentioned plans to hold the general convention within the next six months, aiming to complete the process by October if possible.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has resigned from his position on “moral grounds” amidst questions regarding the source of his assets. Elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Gorkha 1, Gurung stated on social media that he resigned “to ensure an impartial investigation related to issues concerning me and to avoid any conflict of interest while holding the position.”

Prime Minister Badendra Shah’s Press and Research Officer Deepa Dahal confirmed that Gurung met the Prime Minister on Wednesday to submit his resignation letter. According to her, the Prime Minister has temporarily taken charge of the Home Ministry. Gurung was appointed Home Minister on the very day the cabinet under Shah’s leadership was formed.

Following the public disclosure of his asset details, various questions arose about the sources of his income and investments. Gurung tendered his resignation on the 27th day after becoming a minister. He is the second person to resign from the current cabinet; Dipak Kumar Sah resigned within two weeks amid controversy over his wife’s appointment.

In a Facebook post, Gurung expressed, “Questions, comments, and public expectations raised from the citizens’ level regarding my shares and related matters have deeply concerned me. Morality is greater than any position for me, and there is no power greater than public trust.” Clarifying his resignation for an impartial investigation, he added, “If we truly seek change, everyone must stand on the path of truth, integrity, and self-purification.”

April 22, Kathmandu – Prime Minister Balen Shah has temporarily assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Home Affairs. This follows the resignation of Sudhan Gurung from the Home Minister position earlier today. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat announced that the responsibilities of the ministry will now be under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister.

Sudhan Gurung became embroiled in controversy after revelations surfaced about his business partnership with the contentious businessman Deepak Bhatt. Amid these allegations, Gurung demanded a fair investigation into the matter and subsequently tendered his resignation. This resignation comes just 26 days after the formation of the current government.

Questions regarding Gurung’s assets prompted him to meet the Prime Minister and submit his resignation. Earlier, he had disclosed his asset details publicly. However, concerns were raised over the unnatural nature of the disclosures, which led to additional examination of his investments, including those in microinsurance and other sectors.

Further scrutiny emerged when transactions involving donations received by the social organization ‘Hami Nepal,’ run by Gurung, were reportedly conducted through his personal accounts. This revelation increased pressure from various quarters to remove Gurung from his position. In the midst of this mounting pressure, Gurung resigned from his post on Wednesday.

9 Baishakh, Kathmandu – The Nepali Congress has expressed concern over the arrest of Nepal Student Union (NSU) leaders who were detained while protesting inside Singha Durbar against the government.

Congress spokesperson Devaraj Chalise issued a statement highlighting the arrests made on Tuesday of NSU leaders Bhuvan Bhatt, Kumbharaj Deuba, Navin Bisht, Akash Devkota, Sushil Aidi, and Bishal B.C. He described the incident as a serious matter of concern.

“In a democratic system, freedom of speech and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the freedom to express dissent are fundamental rights of citizens,” the statement said. “Arresting and detaining citizens for exercising these rights raises significant questions about the core values of democracy, the rule of law, and the guarantee of civil liberties. The government’s approach of suppressing dissent through control and repression contradicts democratic principles and the spirit of the constitution.”

Congress has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the arrested Nepal Student Union leaders.

Journalist and photographer Jaynarayan Shah is set to hold a solo photo exhibition titled ‘Witnesses of Time’ on Jestha 11 and 12 in Nepalgunj. The exhibition will showcase significant moments of time, society, nature, and daily life through photography, aiming to highlight Nepali society and cultural heritage. The organizer, Antaral, invites the entire community, including artists, students, and the general public, with the goal of inspiring a new generation’s interest in photography and portraying a vivid image of society.

Organized and managed by Antaral, the ‘Witnesses of Time’ solo photography exhibition presents important snapshots of time, society, nature, and everyday life captured by Jaynarayan Shah. Scheduled for Jestha 11 and 12 in Nepalgunj, the exhibition intends to reveal scenes, characters, traditional clothing, culture, daily life, and nature within Nepali society through evocative images. The photographs on display are expected to offer viewers an immersive experience of the diverse dimensions of human civilization and natural environments.

‘Sometimes certain moments do not remain just memories; they become history,’ says journalist and photographer Jaynarayan Shah. ‘This exhibition is an effort to keep those moments alive.’ Over the past decade and a half, the country has witnessed various political events, shifting landscapes, numerous protests and conflicts, as well as hardships caused by earthquakes, blockades, the COVID-19 pandemic, and lockdowns. Photographer Shah has captured glimpses of all these periods.

‘During my travels, wherever I went, I preserved images of the local people’s lives, customs, traditional attire, settlements, nature, flowers, captivating scenes, and people I met along the way through my camera,’ Shah explains. ‘Now, I am sharing these photos through this exhibition.’ Antaral notes that the exhibition aims to foster greater interest in photography among the younger generation and present a lively portrayal of society’s realities. The organization warmly invites artists, students, media professionals, and the general public to experience these photographs, which tell stories of time, society, and memory.