KATHMANDU, – Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Rajkumar Gupta, to resign following his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal amounting to Rs 7.8 million.

The directive came during a meeting on Monday morning at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, shortly after Minister Gupta returned from Jhapa. Sources close to the Prime Minister confirmed that Gupta was explicitly told to step down to allow for a fair and unhindered investigation.

Minister Gupta has come under intense scrutiny after an audio recording surfaced, allegedly revealing his involvement in a monetary deal related to staff transfers within the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation (MoLCPA). According to the allegations, Gupta received Rs 5.3 million to halt the transfer of Ramchandra Adhikari, the then-chief of the Land Revenue Office in Kaski, and an additional Rs 2.5 million for the appointment of a district chairperson in the Land Commission.

A formal complaint was lodged with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which included photographic evidence of two bags containing the bribe money, along with detailed serial numbers of the currency bundles. The complaint was further supported by the release of the audio recording, intensifying public pressure for accountability.

While Minister Gupta has denied the allegations, calling them fabricated, he previously stated that he is willing to face an investigation if instructed by his party.

The scandal has raised serious concerns about corruption within the federal administration and has sparked calls for stronger transparency and governance across all levels of government.