KMC Office Employee Faces Cybercrime Charges Over Allegations Against Mayor of Rs 1 Billion Embezzlement

A Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office employee finds himself embroiled in a cybercrime case after levying accusations on social media against Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah of embezzling Rs 1 billion. The individual in question, identified as fifty-year-old Ram Prasad Paudel, hailing from Mauwakhola Rural Municipality-1, Taplejung, and employed within the Health Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office, now faces charges under the Cyber Act.

Paudel's purported social media post on Facebook accused Mayor Balen Shah of abusing his authority by allegedly appointing hundreds of employees and misappropriating substantial funds. The post alleged, "Those 166 people appointed by Mayor Balen should return around Rs 1 billion taken as their salaries for two years, which is the tax paid by the city’s citizens."

In response, a complaint was lodged by Sasmit Pokharel, representing Mayor Balen, at the District Police Complex Kathmandu, citing defamation and false accusations against the Mayor.

Paudel, who served in the health department of the municipal corporation for 21 years, was suspended on January 1. His prior legal history includes a conviction for obtaining citizenship and a passport through forgery, for which the Kathmandu District Court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on January 18, 2021.

Presently, Paudel remains a fugitive defendant, as efforts to locate him have proved futile, and a case has been filed against him in the Kathmandu District Court.