Kathmandu: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases at the Special Court against 18 individuals, including the former Managing Director of Nepal Telecom, Sunil Poudel, and the current Managing Director, Sangeeta Pahadi, who was the then Chief Business Officer.
According to National News Agency Nepal, CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Poudel stated that the charges center around alleged irregularities in the billing processes for Nepal Telecom’s services such as GSM mobile, fiber internet, leased lines, wire lines, and wireless services. The allegations involve illegal procurement and sales activities, which reportedly led to the misappropriation of public assets and demonstrated bad faith in equipment purchases.
The case seeks to recover a total of Rs 334 million 817 thousand 430 from Sunil Poudel, Sangeeta Pahadi, former Chief Technical Officer Pratibha Shrestha, and Financial Officer Rajendra Shrestha. This recovery effort extends to other accused officials, including former Chief Operating Officer Jhabindra Lal Upadhyay, former Director Binita Shrestha, Acting Director Amul Pradhan, Manager Devendra Khatiwada, Deputy Manager Rajiv Kumar KC, Santosh Kumar Shrestha, Nawal Chaudhary, Mukti Prasad Aryal, Hemprabha Rampratap Karna, and Paramatma Bhattarai.
The CIAA also highlighted claims for compensation against three Chinese companies and their Nepal-based representatives, who supplied goods under a controversial five-year agreement for an integrated billing system. This agreement allegedly intended to inflict financial damage on the public corporation through collusion.
Spokesperson Poudel concluded that the lawsuit demands accountability and appropriate actions in response to the financial losses and damages inflicted upon Nepal Telecom.