Kathmandu, December 18

Inspector General of Armed Police Force Kosh Raj Onta was suspended today, a day after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority recommended the government to take action against him on corruption charges.

A Cabinet meeting held late this evening also appointed senior-most Additional Inspector General Durja Kumar Rai as Acting Inspector General of the paramilitary force for three months, according to prime minister’s Press Adviser Pramod Dahal.

The embattled inspector general had stepped down from the post before the Cabinet could take formal decision regarding the anti-graft body’s recommendation to suspend him.

Onta, who has been accused of massive financial irregularities in the security force that he led, handed over his resignation to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dahal told The Himalayan Times that the Cabinet refused to accept his resignation.

Before the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and UCPN-Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal had held a separate meeting regarding the suspension of the tainted APF chief and appointing his replacement to lead the force.

Yesterday, the CIAA had sought suspension of Onta, APF Deputy Superintendents Suman Jung Thapa and Ram Krishna Maharjan and APF Inspector Bin Bahadur Thapa for their alleged involvement in “massive financial irregularities and corrupt practices” in the supply of logistics through Sadajyoti Suppliers.

They have been accused of supplying logistics by making false bills and documents.

The Cabinet also suspended all three other tainted APF officers DSP duo Thapa and Maharjan, as well as Inspector Thapa.

The CIAA had said it recommended suspension of these officers because if they had continued to hold their position, they could destroy evidences that could be used against them and could pose hurdles in further investigation into the allegation.