Kathmandu, Feb 2: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court against eight senior officials, including the former general manager of Udayapur Cement Industry, over large-scale clinker embezzlement.
The anti-graft body said its investigation confirmed that clinker, a key raw material for cement, was misused in a planned manner over several years. The losses occurred from fiscal year 2017/18 to December 2020, during which public property under the officials’ control was systematically siphoned off.
Those charged include former general manager Surendra Kumar Poudel, acting general manager Nawal Koshor Saha, deputy general manager Mahesh Prasad Kafle, and several department chiefs overseeing production, clinker, cement, stores, and sales.
The CIAA has demanded recovery of more than Rs 124 million from Poudel and about Rs 126 million from Kafle. In addition, it has sought compensation of over Rs 465 million from the remaining accused, including Sah, citing collective responsibility and coordination in the misuse.
According to the commission, the accused acted in collusion, abusing their authority and causing heavy financial damage to the state-owned industry. Charges have been filed under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 2002, seeking prison terms, fines, and full recovery of losses.
The investigation relied on clinker stock records, physical verification reports, audit findings of the Office of the Auditor General, and inquiries conducted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. These documents showed a large mismatch between recorded stock and actual physical inventory. People’s News Monitoring Service
Comments:
Leave a Reply