KATHMANDU, JUNE 23

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today filed a charge-sheet at the Special Court against a former Nayab Subba (non-gazetted first class officer) for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets worth around Rs 24.5 million during his service term at various offices of the Government of Nepal.

The anti-graft body said Ganapati Jha, who joined the civil service as a non-gazetted second class officer on 24 November, 1982, retired as a non-gazetted first class officer from District Administration Office, Dhanusha.

The CIAA had launched a thorough investigation into his property status after it received a complaint of illegal assets accumulated by him.

According to the CIAA, Jha managed to disclose the source of only around Rs 24.2 million out of the assets worth around Rs 48.7 million he had reportedly earned after joining civil service.

Therefore, the assets worth Rs 24.5 million have been deemed illegal and earned through corruption and embezzlement of state funds.

'It is proved that Jha accumulated illegal assets of around Rs 24.5 million as he failed to establish the legitimate sources thereof and supporting evidences,' said a press release issued by the anti-graft body. Jha had retired from the government service in mid-July 2021.

He was found purchasing land, house, vehicle in his name, his wife's and three sons' names, besides depositing cash in banks and financial institutions, and purchasing shares. The CIAA said he accumulated disproportionate property through corruption.

Jha also possesses a bulldozer, jeeps and a tractor, and operates business firms and contractor company.

The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 24.5 million, along with a fine equivalent of the amount in question, from Jha as per Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-2002.

The anti-graft body has also listed his wife Mina Kumari Jha, and son Diwakar Jhaa, Shiva Kumar Jha and Karunakar Jha in the charge-sheet under the act for confiscation of illegal assets, as most of the wealth were kept in their names.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 24, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.