KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 10

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to suspend General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport Prem Nath Thakur.

The directive was issued over an audio recording of his conversation with an airline representative, said Joint Secretary and MoCT- CA Spokesperson Rajendra Kumar KC.

Thakur has been charged with holding a conversation with a representative of Thai Smile Airways for illegal personal gains. Acting on the Cabinet decision, the CAAN has been asked to suspend Thakur while the matter is investigated, KC said.

The ministry has also urged the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority to probe the matter, he said.

Just last month, the CIAA had arrested Purna Chudal, the TIA chief (domestic terminal), on corruption allegations.

A large amount of expensive liquor and cash was recovered from Chudal's office.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.