Banking News – The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption charge sheet against 11 individuals, including Nilambar Mishra Maithili, the then Acting Chief Administrative Officer of Aurahi Municipality, Mahottari, and five supplier companies.

According to the CIAA, an investigation into a complaint regarding irregularities in the distribution of hand pumps, tube wells, water pumps and other equipment for drinking water in Aurahi Municipality found serious irregularities in the public procurement process.

The commission said that while procuring hand pumps, tube wells and other materials in fiscal year 2079/80, the municipality violated provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2063 and the Public Procurement Regulations, 2064.

According to the CIAA, the defendants allegedly colluded with suppliers to add 15 percent to the item rates of materials and get the cost estimates approved. They also allegedly divided the procurement of goods and services of the same nature into different phases and made repeated purchases, thereby limiting competition in the procurement process.

The CIAA filed the charge sheet at the Special Court, Kathmandu, today, seeking punishment and recovery of the claimed amount under Sections 17 and 22 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059.