- Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Kathmandu, June 8: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today filed cases at the Special Court against 18 individuals, including Nepal Telecom’s the then Managing Director Sunil Poudel and then Chief Business Officer (incumbent Managing Director) Sangeeta Pahadi.
CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Poudel said that a case has been filed against them alleging of irregularities in the billing of services including Nepal Telecom’s GSM mobile, fiber internet, leased line, wire line, and wireless due to the illegal purchase and sales. The CIAA has argued that there was bad faith in the purchase of related equipment and also the misappropriation of public assets.
The CIAA filed a case against the then Managing Director of Telecom Sunil Poudel, Managing Director Pahadi, then Chief Technical Officer Pratibha Shrestha, and Financial Officer Rajendra Shrestha, claiming recouping Rs 334 million 817 thousand 430 from them all.
Similarly, a case has been filed against the then Chief Operating Officer Jhabindra Lal Upadhyay, then 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, claiming recouping Rs 334 million 817 thousand 430 from them all.
The Commission has stated that a claim for compensation amounting to Rs 334 million 817 thousand 430 has been made against three Chinese companies supplying goods and their representatives based in Nepal.
The CIAA claimed that a five-year agreement had been reached for an integrated billing system with the aim of causing losses to public corporation through mutual collusion. The Commission’s spokesperson Poudel informed that a lawsuit has been filed today demanding action according to the loss and damages caused to Nepal Telecom.
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Siddhababa Tunnel’s physical progress is 54 percent
Tansen (Palpa), June 8: The physical progress of the Siddhababa Tunnel construction project, a project of national pride, has reached 54 percent, while the financial progress stands at 48 percent.
The work has gained momentum after the ‘breakthrough’ of the tunnel. Currently, the work of ‘inverted lining’ is progressing rapidly, as reported by the project’s engineer, Sabita Gyawali.
According to her, out of a total of 1,089 meters in the main tunnel, 990 meters of inverted work has been completed, while the ‘lining’ related works on 660 meters out of 1,126 meters have been completed.
Engineer Gyawali said that the work of ‘invert and lining’ is ongoing at Bypass-1 and the work of ‘invert’ has started at Bypass-3. She noted that out of 151 meters at Bypass-1, 145 meters of invert and 118 meters of lining work have been completed so far.
“Bypass-2 has 161 meters. So far, the work of invert and lining has not started over there. Bypass-3 has 130 meters, out of which 36 meters of invert work has been completed till the date. However, the work of lining has not yet started,” said Gyawali.
She further informed that the work of concrete pouring on the wall, road construction, drainage inside the tunnel, ventilation, lining, electrical installation, oxygen supply, safety measures, and installation of fire extinguishing equipment will be carried out here as soon as possible.
After that, helipads will be constructed on the north and south sides of the tunnel route, she said. The construction of the 1,126-meter tunnel section under the Siddhartha Highway from the upper Siddhababa temple in Butwal-Tansen road section started in the year 2079 BS (2022). The main tunnel has already undergone ‘breakthrough’ under this project.
The China State Construction Engineering Corporation had signed a contract worth Rs 7 billion 342 million 40 thousand to complete it by the year 2083 (2026).
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Over 2,000 taxpayers failing to submit tax details suspended in Chitwan
Chitwan, June 8: As many as 2,373 of the value-added tax (VAT) payers registered at the Internal Revenue Office in Bharatpur have been suspended.
The Internal Revenue Department has suspended those taxpayers who have not submitted value-added tax statements for the past six months.
Information officer of the office Bimal Paudel said that 2,400 value-added tax payers registered at the office had not submitted their details. Only 27 VAT-payers had submitted the details after the Department issued a notice to this effect on April 24.
With the suspension of those tax-payers not submitting the details, their operations have been halted and consumers have been informed not to engage in business transaction with them.
The suspended taxpayer must submit all remaining tax details if they need to continue their business operations.
There are more than 72,000 taxpayers in the district, including over 10,000 value-added tax payers.
It is stated that the Inland Revenue Department has published the list of 95,349 taxpayers not submitting their VAT details within the deadline across the country and has suspended them.
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Beni-Jomsom-Korala road reports 84 percent physical progress
Mustang, June 8: The Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, which forms part of the Kaligandaki Corridor linking the northern and southern regions, has achieved 84 percent physical progress.
Since its launch, the Korala Road Project has undertaken 43 sub-projects with a total contract value of Rs 7.90 billion, of which Rs 6.64 billion has already been expended.
Project Chief Dhruba Jha stated that all 43 sub-projects have been implemented up to the current fiscal year. The project has successfully constructed and commissioned 20 roads and 23 bridges or culverts stretching from Maldhunga in Parbat to the Korala transit point.
Regarding physical progress, six sections of the 110 kilometres of gravel roads from Jomsom to Korala have been completed and handed over by the construction companies. The 25-kilometre Charang-Chhoser road is nearing completion.
In Myagdi district, a three-kilometre asphalt paving segment along the Beni-Galeshwor section has been over. Likewise, the Kaiku-Khanti section, part of the third segment of the Beni-Jomsom road, has been blacktopped and handed over to the corridor road project, according to the project chief.
Along the Beni-Jomsom stretch, the upgrading of the roads between Galeshwor-Tatopani, Tatopani-Ghansa, and Khanti-Jomsom has neared the completion, the project office said.
Under the 74 kilometres long Beni-Jomsom road, the third section from Kaiku of Khanti of Mustang has been already constructed and handed to the Road Division Office, Baglung. “Out of the 74 kilometers of the Beni-Jomsom road, 20 kilometres have been completed,” Jha confirmed.
Among the 23 bridges and pipelines under the Kaligandaki Corridor project, the construction of bridges over the Kaiku, Larjung, Seto, Ghami, and Marpha rivers in Mustang is progressing swiftly. According to project information officer Bishnu Chapagain, all the bridges currently under construction are in their final stages.
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Speaker Ghimire consults with party Chief Whips in bid to resume house business
Kathmandu, June 8: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has held discussions with the Chief Whips of the three major parties regarding the issue of lifting the obstruction in Parliament.
Speaker Ghimire met this morning at Singha Durbar with Shyam Kumar Ghimire, chief whip of the Nepali Congress, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, chief whip of the CPN (UML), and Hitraj Pandey of CPN (Maoist Centre). The Speaker expressed dissatisfaction, stating that although the parliamentary meetings have been postponed multiple times for consensus among political parties, no result is seen.
Stating that discussions on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year could not begin due to the obstruction in parliament, he urged the parties to consider constitutional limits and practical aspects.
The chief whip of the main opposition Maoist Centre, Pandey, mentioned that party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has convened a meeting of opposition parties in Baneshwor today, and thereafter they would express their stance.
The chief whips of the ruling UML, Bartaula, and the Nepali Congress, Ghimire, reiterated their stance that they could not agree to the opposition’s demand for the resignation of the Home Minister and the formation of an investigation committee to carry out investigation into the ‘visit visa scam’.
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President speaks of high potential for sports tourism in Nepal
Kathmandu, June 8: President Ramchandra Paudel has said Nepal offers a high potential for the development of sports tourism.
The Head of the State said this during his meeting with officials from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas today.
“Events like distance races from the adventurous ultra-marathon from the lap of Sagarmatha to Nepalgunj in the western Terai, are being successfully conducted in Nepal. I firmly believe races that suit to our unique geography can certainly unlock new opportunities in sports tourism. We look forward to international organizations like AIMS promoting sports tourism in Nepal,” said the President on the occasion, as quoted by his personal secretariat.
He further highlighted the significance of sports for world peace, unity and harmony, underlining that the culture of running, in particular, contributes to achieving sound health, promoting healthy competition, and in building of a prosperous society.
According to the President, Nepal is striving for the development of sports, and the government continues to invest more in the sports sector each year. Likewise, the private sector is also supporting the development of sports. He expressed gratitude to the AIMS for choosing Nepal for organising its Board meeting.
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Provincial government provides financial support to Bajura fire victims
Sudurpaschim, June 8: The Sudurpaschim Province government has decided to provide Rs 4 million in assistance to the fire victims of Bajura.
A meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Control Council held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah made this decision.
Stating that the assistance amount will be provided to the Budhiganga Municipality, Chief Minister Shah told RSS after the meeting that the provincial government will decide on further assistance after receiving the full details of the damages caused by the fire.
The meeting has also decided to provide 15 tents, 34 blankets, and 34 tarpaulins to the fire victims.
Thirty-one houses and shops were gutted by fire that broke out after the explosion of a cooking gas cylinder at the Navadurga Hotel in Bamka Bazaar, Budhiganga Municipality – 6 in Bajura district on Friday afternoon, causing property damage worth Rs 150 million, according to security forces.
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Prime Minister Oli briefed about Land Commission’s work progress
Kathmandu, June 8: The officials of the Land Problem Resolution Commission have apprised Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli about the progress of the work done by the commission so far.
During the discussions at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar today, the Commission officials reported to the PM that the commission is working in collaboration with all three tiers of the government on identifying landless Dalits, squatters, and unregistered inhabitants, collecting land records and carrying out certification, surveying, dispute resolution, as well as land registration and distribution of the land ownership certificates.
Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari was also present on the occasion.
Chairman of the commission, Hari Prasad Rijal, informed that a standard has been prepared to identify landless and the squatters who have not received housing and government land for the past 10 years, as well as those who have been living on government, public, and leasehold land for at least 10 years without proper arrangements.
The commission officials mentioned that it would be easier for the commission to pursue its works if the bill to amend some land-related laws in Nepal is passed.
Prime Minister Oli expressed the confidence that the bill under consideration in Parliament would be passed soon and instructed the commission to proceed ahead with the identification of landless Dalits, squatters, and unregulated settlers in a planned and accelerated manner.
The government formed the commission on October 30 last year.
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TUTH achieves first successful genital transformation surgery
Kathmandu, June 8: The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj has successfully performed the country’s first genital transformation surgery.
The gender-affirming surgery was conducted on a 25-year-old transgender individual from Janakpur. Through this medical intervention, male genitalia were reassigned to female genitalia.
The Department of Plastic Surgery at TUTH had offered various surgeries for transgender individuals, including facial and breast surgeries from May 26 to 29. The recent genital surgery was performed during this period.
Hospital spokesperson and Associate Professor Dr. Gopal Sedhai said that the availability of such services within the country is a significant convenience for those in need. Previously, individuals seeking genital transformation surgery had to travel abroad to access this care.
The surgical team included foreign plastic surgeon Dr. Alireza Hamidian Jahromi, who specializes in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Adult Gender Surgery, as well as the department chief, Professor Dr Jayan Man Shrestha.
Gender-affirming surgeries are now regularly available through the Gender Affirming Clinic at TUTH, it is said.
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Tourism should be linked with Himalayan beauty: NA Chair Dahal
Kathmandu, May 8: Chairman of the National Assembly (NA), Narayan Prasad Dahal, said that if the mountains and mountain ranges of the country could be connected with adventure tourism and made recognized worldwide, it would be meaningful.
After visiting the photo exhibition on ‘Mountain Tourism: Our Pride, Our Identity’ organized by the National News Agency (RSS) on the occasion of the 18th Republic Day, he remarked, ‘For the past three years, RSS has been appreciable in promoting the country to the Nepali people through various themed photo exhibitions. Everyone has had the opportunity to understand these invaluable resources of the country by coming to RSS.’
Meanwhile, talking to RSS, Chairman Dahal said, “Important bills are pending in the House of Representatives, and we have been waiting to see when they are forwarded so that we can discuss them. Our desire and sentiment is that the House session should progress quickly.”
He mentioned that the past tendency of the National Assembly also being inactive when the House of Representatives was obstructed has been stopped, stating, “The National Assembly has been working diligently according to the powers given by the constitution, thus leaving behind the past wrong practices.”
Welcoming Chairman Dahal to the exhibition, Executive Chairman of RSS, Dharmendra Jha, expressed the confidence that the exhibition held on the occasion of the 18th Republic Day has been useful for gaining information about the significance and beauty of the country’s mountains.
Earlier today Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel also observed the photo exhibition organized at RSS building.
The exhibition, which started on May 25, includes 96 photographs related to various mountain ranges of the country, the Himalayan lifestyle, and major tourist destinations as well.
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Narcotic drugs to blame for suicides, road accidents and cyber crime: Home Minister
Kathmandu, June 8: Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak stated that the root cause of suicide, road accidents and cyber crimes is ‘drug abuse,’ and therefore the entire nation must unite for its control and reduction.
Addressing a programme organized at the Ministry today in the context of celebrating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Home Minister stated that there is a need to reduce and control drug abuse with the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders.
Referring to an instance where drivers have started using drugs after the police started testing for alcohol abuse, he said, “Considering the situation of the trafficking, storage, and consumption of drugs, which every year causes irreparable damage to the country with significant human and financial loss, it is essential that there is cooperation and collaboration between the relevant government and non-government organisations and the civil society.”
The Home Minister emphasized that it is essential for family members, including parents, schools, and local authorities to pay special attention in order to effectively prevent and reduce the misuse of narcotic drugs and their illegal trafficking. He requested everyone to make this year’s national observance of the Day, which will be celebrated from June 20 to 26, result-oriented, just like during the previous years.
Stressing that individuals themselves should be aware and alert to reduce and control the negative effects of drug abuse in society, the Home Minister expressed the need for regular interaction between parents and teachers in schools, the inclusion of drug-related topics in the school curriculum, the necessity to break the network and vicious network associated with this that is troubling the entire nation. He also spoke of the need of conducting awareness campaign against substance abuse and its trafficking as a movement.
On the occasion, representatives from various organizations suggested that potential sites for drug abuse, such as schools and hostels, should be monitored closely, maximum action should be taken against those involved in drug trade, separate classes related to drugs should be arranged even at the local level, creative programmes such as street plays and essay competitions related to the perils of drug abuse should be organized, strict action should be arranged for drivers using drugs, nationwide awareness programmes against drug abuse and illegal trafficking should be conducted, and alertness should be adopted regarding narcotics trafficking that could occur across open borders.
Official statistics indicate that each year 134,000 people die in Nepal due to substance abuse, but it was stated in the programme today that more than half a million deaths occur due to this.
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Two dead, 34 injured in Tulsipur bus accident
Dang, June 8: Two people died and 34 others were injured in a collision between two buses at Bakhariya, Tulsipur Sub-metropolis-13, today.
The deceased have been identified as Narayan Bhandari, 65, and Shanta Khadka Chaudhary, 25, both residents of Dangisharan Rural Municipality-2, police confirmed.
According to Police Inspector Surya Bahadur Rana of the Area Police Office, Tulsipur, a passenger bus (Na 4 Kha 4009) traveling from Tulsipur to Goltakuri collided with a school bus (Ra 1 Ka 870) belonging to Gyanjyoti Boarding School. The accident resulted in two fatalities and four people sustaining serious injuries.
The school that was heading towards Bakhariya from Tulsipur bus was not carrying any students at the time of the collision. The passenger bus fell some five meters off the road following the crash.
The injured are receiving treatment at the Provincial Hospital, Tulsipur, with the majority of them coming from the same locality.
Following the accident, the drivers of both buses have been detained for further investigation.
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Government moving forward with the right policies: Prime Minister Oli
Kathmandu, June 8: Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (UML) K P Sharma Oli has said that there is no difference of opinion within the coalition partners as the government is progressing with the right policies for political stability, good governance, and development.
Inaugurating the 24th national convention of the All Nepal National Independent Students Union today in Kirtipur, Prime Minister Oli reiterated that, as per the agreement between the Nepali Congress and UML, the Congress will be handed over the leadership of the government after 13 months, with UML participating in the government. “Our opponents are trying to create division within the power alliance.”
We have said that we will secure a majority in the upcoming elections under our goal mission of 2084. As a competing party, Congress also has the right to claim majority, Chairman Oli said, ‘We have moved forward ready to contest the elections tomorrow based on competition while being in the government together right now, in that sense I have been saying, UML must work to bring a single majority in the upcoming elections.
There should be no ambiguity in this regard.’ In this era of technology, the youth students must play a leading role in the campaign to fulfill the national aspiration of ‘UML’s people’s multi-party democracy and a Prosperous Nepal: Happy Nepali’ by being adept in information technology.
He recalled that it was this organization that compelled the declaration of a referendum in 2036 BS under the leadership of the student movement, particularly ANNFSU and that they sacrificed to bring true democracy and republic to the country.
Chair Oli stated that there would be no compromise for violent activities such as vandalism, beatings, arson in educational institutions, and shutdowns in the name of students, urging the organization to remain as a transformative, civilized, and responsible organization.
Chairman Oli further opined that the ANNFSU members should be well disciplined, decent and cooperative.
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