KATHMANDU, JUNE 23
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case in the Special Court against Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, resulting in his automatic suspension, today. The case pertains to corruption in the purchase of excise duty stickers during Aryal's tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Communication.
The CIAA has filed the case against 12 individuals, including Aryal, citing that they have caused billions of rupees in damage to the state treasury. The CIAA has demanded the recovery of Rs 386,717,640 from Aryal and the others.
This filing marks possibly the first incident in Nepal's civil service history where a sitting Chief Secretary has been charged with corruption.
As per Section 33 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, and Section 17 of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Act, 1991, Aryal was automatically suspended immediately after the case was filed. These sections stipulate that any civil servant detained or against whom a case is filed will remain suspended until the case is resolved.
The provisions also state that a suspended person cannot work in any government office, public institution, or in any position involving the expenditure of funds received by the Government of Nepal in the form of loans or grants.
Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, who was appointed on June 15, 2023, is now barred from his duties until the Special Court reaches a verdict on the corruption charges.
