CIAA books 10 transport officials
Driving licence test results of 208 applicants tampered with
Kathmandu, October 9
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today registered a chargesheet against 10 transport officials, including Tej Narayan Yadav, chief of the Transport Management Office, Ekantakuna, for their alleged involvement in illegally issuing driving licences.
Issuing a press statement today, the anti-graft body stated that the chargesheet was registered at the Special Court, Kathmandu, recommending strict action against the offenders based on the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CIAA stated that its probe based on complaints lodged at the commission found the concerned officials guilty of misusing their authority while issuing driving licences.
Along with Yadav, the chargesheet has been filed against Shyam KC, mechanical engineer at TMO, Ekantakuna; Section Officers Bhupa Raj Dahal, Ishwor Raj Regmi, Shiva Prasad Subedi, Bishnu Prasad Subedi; and Lekhnath Bhusal, a non-gazetted second-class officer. The anti-graft body has also filed chargesheet against Salikgram Poudel, section officer at TMO, Thulobharyang, and computer operator Bigyan Khadki. The chargesheet has also been filed against Laxman Tiwari, computer operator at the Department of Transport Management.
Rameshwor Dangal, spokesperson for CIAA, said the authority had looked into the matter after receiving numerous complaints on unlawful distribution of driving licences and revenue embezzlement at TMOs.
According to him, the probe revealed that the TMO offices at Ekantakuna and Thulobharyang had unlawfully tampered with the driving licence test results of 208 applicants under ‘B' category (car, jeep, van) between January 15 and March 9.
Moreover, the CIAA probe had found that these TMOs had already issued 204 driving licences under the concerned category to applicants who had failed the driving licence test in the said period.
Meanwhile, Lawanya Dhakal, director general at DoTM, said officials involved in unlawful acts had to be punished as per the prevailing laws. He also expressed his commitment to control anomalies, regardless of the type, in the transportation industry.
