KATHMANDU, APRIL 28

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a chargesheet at the Special Court against a nayab subba (non-gazetted first class officer) of Customs Clearance Office in Tinkune, Kathmandu, for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets worth around Rs 18.7 million.

The anti-graft body said Devi Bahadur Thapa managed to establish the source of only Rs 20.2 million of assets worth around Rs 38.9 million he had reportedly earned after joining civil service of the government body on 20 July 1999.

According to a press release issued by the CIAA, Thapa accumulated illegal assets of around Rs 20.2 million till fiscal 2019-20 as he failed to establish legitimate sources and supporting evidences thereof.

Of his total assets worth Rs 38.9 million that Thapa earned as a non-gazetted first class officer during the period, his legitimate assets calculated by the anti-graft body was Rs. 20.2 million only.

The source of Rs 18.7 million could not be established.

Thapa was found purchasing houses and lands in his name and that of his father, mother and wife, besides purchasing shares of various firms and companies, and investing in companies.

He seems to have accumulated disproportionate property through corruption.

The CIAA has sought maximum punishment against Thapa and recovery of disproportionate amount in question as per Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002.

The anti-graft body has also listed his father Krishna Bahadur Thapa, mother Chandra Maya and Bimala Raut as defendants in the chargesheet under the act for confiscation of illegal assets.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 29, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.