KATHMANDU, AUGUST 28

The Nepal Bar Association has submitted a 35-point letter to Impeachment Recommendation Committee listing details of the alleged wrongdoings by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana.

The NBA submitted the letter to the Impeachment Recommendation Committee after the latter solicited evidence of irregularities and corruption against Rana. The House panel has been probing against Rana who remains suspended after 98 lawmakers moved impeachment motion against him in February.

The NBA stated that CJ Rana's involvement was revealed in the telephonic conversation held between Advocate Rudra Prasad Pokharel and Kathmandu District Court Judge Raj Kumar Koirala in connection with Ichchharaj Tamang case. It asked the House committee to procure files from the Supreme Court related to building construction contract that was awarded to a construction company by CJ Rana.

The NBA also cited the case of murder convict Ranjan Koirala whose sentence was commuted by CJ Rana's bench.

It alleged that advocate Ganesh Raj Regmi was incited by CJ Rana to file a case against the nomination made by the Constitutional Council for appointment to constitutional bodies.

The NBA also asked the House panel to seek call details of a conversation between SC Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma and Jumla High Court Judge Nawaraj Thapaliya where Sharma allegedly told Thapaliya that CJ Rana would deliver a favourable verdict in a case. This case is being investigated by SC Justice Til Prasad Shrestha.

When Ram Kumar Prasad Sah was the chief justice, Rana was involved in passing a verdict in favour of Prerana Rajya Laxmi, upholding her claim. However, the verdict was later overturned by the SC.

The NBA accused Rana of seeking bribe from ineligible candidates while appointing high court judges.

It alleged that he took bribe from high court judges as well when it came to transfer and promotion. The NBA alleged that Rana transferred the then registrar of Patan High Court Gajendra Singh for not getting 'his cut' from the amount he got to procure decoration goods for Patan High Court.

CJ Rana allegedly received bribe from Krishna Bahadur Giri aka Siddha Baba and pressured district court judge Arjun Koirala to give verdict in Giri's favour.

It said that CJ Rana used his relatives and friends to receive bribe. It accused a Lalitpur trader known as Ghyu Sahu (butter trader), Amit Shrestha, and Dipak Timilsina of indulging in corrupt practices on behalf of Rana. The NBA said properties of these people should also be investigated.

The NBA alleged that Rana kept property in the name of his family members.

It said accounts of his son-in-law Binay Rawal, brother in-law Keshab Upreti, brother Prabhu Shumsher JB Rana, and other relatives Tilak Rawal and Ram Sharan Thapa should be investigated.

The NBA alleged that Rana transferred Kathmandu District Court judge Badri Prasad Oli to Ramechhap District Court on deputation in order to award a favourable verdict in a rape and fraud case and transferred him back to KDC immediately after Oli gave the favourable ruling in those cases.

It alleged that Rana's brother Prabhu Shumsher hired an office at Devkota Marg and took bribe from case parties and CJ Rana also visited that office. The NBA urged the House panel to investigate call details between Rana and his brother, as well as the CCTV footage of the office.

Stating that Rana had procured two ropani land in Thamel in his wife's name, the NBA said the House panel should seek the source of income that was used by Rana to procure the land.

The NBA alleged that CJ Rana clandestinely went to the prime minister's residence on multiple occasions, defying the principle of separation of powers.

The NBA said that CJ Rana carried out irrational activities in cases involving Ncell, Bhatbhateni shopping mall, and the CPN-UML.

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