CIAA set to file graft case against NTB's Nirola
KATHMANDU:
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is preparing to file a corruption case against Subash Nirola, the suspended acting CEO and director of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).The anti-graft body’s investigation so far has revealed that he was nvolved in misusing the funds in the names of different tourism promotion activities, according to CIAA officials. As a part of the investigation, the anti-graft body is also set to grill Nirola over the corruption issue.
Last week, after its preliminary investigation, CIAA directed the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to suspend Nirola immediately and present him in the CIAA for further investigation. Tourism Ministry has said that it has notified Nirola to report to the CIAA.“Our ministry via NTB board has informed Nirola about the CIAA direction,” said Sadhuram Sapkota, joint secretary at Tourism Ministry. Charged of
conducting irregularities at NTB, Nirola was suspended from his posts by NTB board on October 30 last year based on the direction of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Legislature-Parliament.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court has also upheld the decision of the PAC. Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Om Prakash Mishra ruled that a stay order did not need to be issued as CIAA had also called for Nirola’s suspension. Nirola had filed a writ petition in the SC a day after NTB board decided to suspend him.
An official at the CIAA said that they would file a case against Nirola after questioning him and completing other procedures. Earlier, in October 22 last year, PAC had directed the Tourism Ministry to suspend Nirola saying that he was founddirectly involved in haphazardly misusing government resources by flouting rules. It had said that NTB had no clear evidence on expenses of more than Rs 400 million for last three fiscal years — 2011-12 to 2013-14, when Nirola was the acting CEO of the NTB.
PAC also recommended CIAA, Tourism Ministry and Department of Money Laundering Investigation to further investigate and take action against Nirola and also submit monthly progress report to it. Begendra Raj Sharma, spokesperson for CIAA, said, “Investigation regarding irregularities at NTB is ongoing.”
Prior to investigation of the PAC, an investigation conducted by a seven-member committee of the government had also concluded that Nirola was involved in embezzling government resources. The committee report too had recommended further investigation and action against Nirola and other individuals involved. Investigations have revealed that NTB Financial Bylaws was amended, giving excessive power to the acting CEO, which contradicts the Public Procurement Act and its regulations.
Unethical amendment of the bylaws, procurement of goods and services neglecting public procurement law, recruitment of staff members and interns against NTB Employee Bylaw, buying liquor, expenses in the name of former staff and misappropriation of Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) fund were some of the wrongdoings at NTB during Nirola’s tenure.
For example, more than Rs 100 million had been spent during Nepal Tourism Year 2011 in unproductive activities. Similarly, even though the legal consultancy fee for the last fiscal year 2013-14 had been fixed at Rs 605,000, there had been payment of Rs 3.6 million for the service and Rs 28.81 million had been released in the names of Rajendra Ghimire, Kundan Sharma and Shiva Dayal Jha over the last three fiscals, while the purpose of the payment is dubious.
Source: THT
