Directorate Director Dr Poudel held while taking bribe

POKHARA: Director of Gandaki State Health Directorate Dr Taranath Poudel was arrested while taking bribe from a public service aspirant youth on Sunday.

A team of officials from Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) caught the doctor red handed while he was taking Rs 100,000 from a youth, who had passed written examinations for post of health assistant, and was awaiting interview with a panel involving Dr Poudel.

Dr Poudel who was called to attend PSC’s interview as an expert to shortlist candidates in panel interview was held from an eatery at Buddha Chok, a CIAA source said.

The accused doctor had sought a bribe of Rs 100,000 stating that he would alter upcoming interview results to pass the youth. However, after receiving multiple phone calls for bribe, the youth informed CIAA officials.

Dr Poudel, an 11th tier Joint Secretary personnel of the government was a former Director General of Department of Health Services.