IB seeks clarification from Aryal for second time

KATHMANDU, JUN 16 -

The Insurance Board (IB) has sought clarification from its Executive Director Binod Aryal for the second time in 10 days on why he should not be sacked from the board as he is facing charge of policy corruption and fraud.

After finding his previous clarification “unsatisfactory”, the board on June 13 gave him three days to submit his clarification. This has increased the possibility of his sacking from the board.

The insurance sector regulator had earlier sought Aryal’s clarification on June 4. Aryal has been charged of getting appointed as executive director of the IB by hiding his disqualification, getting involved in businesses against the IB Employee Bylaw, and abusing his authority to take undue advantage from insurance companies.

Mentioning that he was neither attending the office, nor was he reachable at his home, the board on June 14 made public a notice on its website seeking his clarification. The board has informed him in the notice that he has also been sent the letter in his email.

As per the vacancy notice published on February 4, 2012, a serving director, official or employee of any institution could not apply for the post of executive director at IB. The qualification criteria were set as per the IB Employee Bylaw.

However, Aryal was found involved in two companies—Aryal Construction Trading and Consultancy and Bristi Tours and Travels—as director.

Aryal also faces the charge of taking undue advantage of his position by forcing an insurer to pay for the damage caused by an accident to an excavator owned by Aryal Construction Trading and Consultancy. In the letter, he board has said Aryal forced the insurer for his benefits after he became IB’s executive director. The board said it was not satisfied by Aryal’s previous clarification on these issues.

In his clarification, Aryal had said the decision of his appointment was taken as per IB’s Employee Service Bylaw 2011 and the regular does not have the authority to seek

clarification on the matter later, according to IB’s letter. But the IB has argued that it only came to know about Aryal’s disqualification after his appointment.

Source: The Kathmandu Post