GHAIGHAT: The Commission for the Investigation Abuse of Authority (CIAA) detained Udayapur district's Katari Municipality Accounts Officer allegedly involved in misappropriation of fund, from New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, on Wednesday.

Acting on the written complaint lodged by Katari Municipality Mayor Gyanendra Shrestha, the CIAA team arrested Ravi Chandra Dhakal for taking possession of social security allowance using a forged sifnature.

Dhakal had disappeared for the past week with Rs 39.8 million belonging to the municipality which was meant for social security allowance sent by Financial Comptroller Office, Udayapur.

Soon after the comptroller office deposited the money in Rastriya Banijya Bank Katari Branch, Dhakal withdrew the amount using a forged signature of Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality Punya Prasad Poudel.

It has been reported that Dhakal deposited all the money in his personal bank account and withdrew everything except Rs 2.7 million.

“Investigation into the case is under way,” said Mayor Shrestha.

Following the incident, people have become skeptical about financial irregularities in relation to other topics as well in the municipality.

According to Mayor Shrestha, the officer is also involved in financial irregularities in Ilam and Solukhumbu districts.

It has been learnt that Officer Dhakal had been staying with his wife in Kathmandu for a week.