Kathmandu, January 22

The Special Court today acquitted all 33 defendants in a corruption case which included former director of Department of Labour Ramji Prasad Baral of corruption charges.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had filed cases against them on June 26, 2015 accusing them of corruption.

Spokesperson for the Special Court Nagendra Keshari Pokharel said the CIAA had acquitted all the defendants in the case. He said that the anti-graft body had stated in the chargesheet that the defendants had engaged in corruption   in the process of awarding pre-approvals and labour permits.

Among the defendants were also staff members of some manpower companies, including Jasmine Overseas PVT Ltd, United, United International Manpower Agency, Paschim Nepal Overseas, Alkornis Overseas Pvt Ltd.

The acquittal verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Dwarika Man Joshi, Chandi Raj Dhakal and Pramod Kumar Shreshta Baidya.

The court also acquitted 14 other defendants, including former general managers of Rastriya Awas Company Ltd Krishna Dev Chaudhary and Naresh Chaudhary of corruption charges.

The CIAA on 15 April 2015 had filed a corruption case against them.