Pokhara, February 1:

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has started investigation on Pokhara-based Transport Management Office (TMO) after they were suspected of not performing well.

“A team led by an official of CIAA Surya Prakash Adhikari took record files of the vehicles, copies of driving licences issued by the office in the month of Mangsir and other documents on January 18,” TMO Pokhara chief Jibnath Siwakoti said.

Police had found blank and filled up forms used for applying driving licences from two driving institutes in Pokhara a month ago. After the incident, a complaint was filed in the CIAA, a source said. “The office is at the loss of Rs 50,000 a day. We have stopped issuing driving licences after the CIAA took away documents,” he said. Hundreds of youths are facing difficulties as distribution of licences has been stopped temporarily. The TMO Pokhara, which distributes driving licences to 60 individuals a day, is distributing licences for the Gandaki and Dhualagiri zones.

The act of taking written tests for licences and issuing licences has been affected due to lack of space and the act of shifting the TMO office, chief at Traffic Police Office in Pokhara, Govinda Puri said. Youths who had taken the driving training are in confusion as the issuance of licences has been halted, proprietor of Jayalaxmi Driving Centre in Pokhara Balram Adhikari said. Pokhara TMO said the task of issuing licences will resume in a week.