Kathmandu, December 10

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to suspend Chief District Officer of Dolakha Khagendra Prasad Rijal to pave way for official inquiry into allegations of bribery against him.

Joint Secretary Pradip Kumar Koirala and CIAA spokesperson, said the anti-graft body wrote to the MoHA to relieve Rijal of all responsibilities until the investigation was over, in accordance with the CIAA Act-1991.

As per the act, in case there exists reasonable ground to believe that the person, against whom an action has been initiated on corruption charges, may conceal or destroy evidence against him/ her, or hamper or obstruct inquiry and investigation if he is allowed to continue in his post, the anti-graft body may write to the government agency concerned to suspend him/her.

He said there was an urgent need to suspend Rijal as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had begun an investigation into his alleged involvement in receiving bribe from crime suspects while releasing them on bail after settlement of cases under the jurisdiction of his office.

“I have also taken the news published or broadcast through various media as the base for investigation,” Koirala said. Rijal is also an under-secretary and directly reports to the MoHA.

It was revealed that Rijal had sought a bail of Rs 100,000 from Kumar Lama Moktan of Melung Rural Municipality-4, Dolakha, over a public offence case last week, but issued him a receipt of only Rs 10,000, keeping the rest of the amount with himself.

The financial irregularity came to light when Lama, exposed the receipt to the media in Rijal’s presence on December 5. Dolakha District Police Office had arrested Lama under public offence case, 24 days ago.

Following a trial hearing, Lama’s wife Renu Tamang had handed 100,000 rupees to the CDO to secure Lama’s release, but got a receipt for 10,000 rupees only.