Kathmandu, November 15

Chair of erstwhile Tax Settlement Commission Lumbadhwaj Mahat and member Umesh Dhakal, who face corruption charges today surrendered before the Special Court.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had filed corruption cases against Mahat, Dhakal and erstwhile member secretary of TSC Chudamani Sharma on July 16.   While Sharma had been arrested in the case, Mahat and Dhakal were absconding. Sharma was later released after the Supreme Court issued a habeas corpus writ on August 11 as demanded by Sharma’s wife Kalpana.

Sharma was suspended from the post of director general of Inland Revenue Department after he was indicted in the graft case.

Spokesperson for the Special Court Nagendra Keshari Pokharel told THT that Mahat and Dhakal surrendered before the court following which they were sent to Dillibazar prison. “We will start recording their statements from tomorrow and then we will conduct bail hearing,” he added.

The SC had served summons to all the three accused.

The CIAA had claimed that the three accused embezzled Rs 10 billion when they served as TSC office bearers.

Special Court Registrar Bhim Kumar Shrestha told THT that the SC had also served summons to Sharma three weeks ago and since he was not present in his house, the court officials pasted the summons at his house.