• Thirteen others have been accused in the corruption case

Kathmandu, March 27

Former minister of women, children and social welfare and former chair of Social Welfare Council Badri Prasad Neupane, who faces corruption charge, today posted Rs 500,000 bail at the Special Court.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority on February 4 had filed a graft case at the Special Court against 14 persons, including Neupane, for allegedly embezzling millions of rupees. Other defendants include former vice-chair of SWC Pramod Mehata; former treasurer of SWC Kunja Bihari Prasad Chaudhary; former members of SWC Hari Neupane, Mohan Raj Sharma and Madan Kumar Lal Karna; and former member secretary of SWC  Ravindra Kumar.

The anti-graft body accused the defendants of not following legal procedure in renting 60 ropani land around Fun park at Bhrikuti Mandap. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the council on 5 September 2012 had awarded the contract to Rabindra Gurung to run Fun Park for a monthly rent of Rs 555,000 (inclusive of all taxes) for 15 years. The CIAA said that as per the Governmental Contract Agreement Act, 1963, the defendants were required to award the contract through tender process, but they did not comply with this provision.

The anti-graft body had accused the defendants of renting the fun park at a much lower price compared to the market rate. It has sought to recoup Rs 315,217,675 from ex-minister Neupane, Mehata, Chaudhary, Sharma, Karna, Hari Neupane, Tek Bahadur Gurung ( Fun Park operator) and Rabindra Gurung (main operator of the fun park).

It has named former treasurer of SWC Ratna Gaha Magar, former director of SWC Madan Prasad Rimal, former deputy director of SWC Bal Bahadur Swar, former legal advisers to SWC Prem Singh Dhami and Jagadev Chaudhary, but has not claimed any amount from them.

The defendants had first awarded the contract on 6 September 2003 for a monthly rent of Rs 9,250 which was upgraded and extended on 5 September 2012.