Fresh corruption charges filed against Chudamani Sharma

KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a new corruption case against the suspended Director General of Inland Revenue Department Chudamani Sharma at the Special Court on Monday.

The anti-graft body informed that the charge sheet was filed after a four-month long investigation while claiming that Sharma had disproportionate asset worth NRs 42.95 million as the source of income was not disclosed for the amount.

It has been learnt that his statements regarding the embezzlement of state funds as an official at the Tax Settlement Commission led to the registration of the case.

Earlier, Sharma along  with two other TSC members, chairman Lumba Dhwoj Mahat and member Umesh Dhakal had faced the corruption charges. Mahat and Dhakal surrendered on November 16 and were released by the Special Court on bail of NRs 100 million each.

The CIAA said that Sharma earned NRs 36.37 million between the period he joined the government service and mid-December 2017. Furthermore, he has invested in shares worth NRs 79.32 million.

Sharma had joined the government service on November 8, 1988.

The Commission has also named Chudamani’s wife Kalpana as another defendant in the case. Sharma had kept some property in the name of his wife.

The anti-corruption body filed the case against Sharma and his wife under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act-1960 and Prevention of Corruption Act-2002.

The CIAA accused Sharma and his family of living a lavish life disproportionate to their legal earning.

It is said that Sharma's wife and children had the amount in their accounts with sources not yet known.

The CIAA also accused Sharma of buying property including vehicles and shares of various companies.

“If convicted, Sharma could face a two year jail term and a fine equal to the disproportionate asset,” said Spokesperson for the Special Court Nagendra Kesari Pokharel.