Corruption Case Filed Against Eight Including Principal Over School Funds Misappropriation

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).