Gupta, Sirohiya acquit

KATHMANDU: Upholding the three-year-old verdict of the Special Court, the Supreme Court on Monday issued clean chit to former minister for agriculture and cooperatives JP Gupta and chairman of Kantipur Publication Kailash Sirohiya in a graft case. A division bench of justices Anup Raj Sharma and Khil Raj Regmi issued the verdict following Monday's hearing. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority had charged Gupta with graft amounting to Rs 25 million while issuing licence to the Katntipur Television some eight years back. — HNS

14 injured

SANKHUWASABHA: Fourteen persons were injured when a van met with an accident in Khandbari-12 on Monday. Condition of eight passengers is reported to be critical, police said. The injured have been sent to Kathmandu and Dharan for treatment. The accident occurred after the brakes of the vehicle failed to function, the police said. — HNS