SANKHUWASABHA: Hit Kumar Nalami, a non-gazetted first class official at Sankhuwasabha District Development Committee, allegedly demanded bribe from a service seeker in his office, it has been revealed.

Nalami asked Rs 7,000 from Lekhnath Budhathoki, a resident of Khandbari-1, who reached the DDC to take the license for Himalayan Construction yesterday.

The official had told Budhathoki that the amount would be transferred to the central office. However, the royalty for obtaining such a license is only Rs 1,010.

“I had already paid the charge. Nalami demanded additional Rs 7,000,” said Budhathoki. “I refused to pay the asked amount saying it was illegal.” The matter became public when Budhathoki filed a complaint at the DAO today. Nalami confessed the charge when the DAO later summoned him to clarify.

The victim said the local administration had not taken any action against the official. CDO Tulsi Prasad Gautam said the case was being investigated while Nalami had been warned. Local development officer Yubaraj Subedi, however, said departmental action had been initiated against Nalami.