Pradeep Adhikari, the former Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), has been sent to judicial custody following his arrest on charges of corruption in the construction of the Nalinchowk Heliport.
A bench of the Special Court comprising judges Hemant Rawal, Dilli Ratna Shrestha, and Bidur Koirala issued the order on Sunday, sending Adhikari to jail.
Key accused released on bail
The court, however, ordered former Director Murari Bhandari to be released on a bail of Rs 500,000, according to Yagya Raj Regmi, Information Officer at the Special Court.
Adhikari and Bhandari were arrested by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) last Wednesday. The charge sheet was filed in the court on the same day after their arrest. Both individuals were also indicted on Sunday in a separate corruption case related to the Pokhara International Airport.
Allegations and charges
The CIAA has concluded that Adhikari and others engaged in corruption in the heliport construction by failing to submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) as per the agreement and by not completing other necessary procedures.
A total claimed amount of Rs 135,746,213.77 has been established, the amount allegedly embezzled in the heliport's construction.
The CIAA had filed a corruption case against seven individuals at the Special Court, including Adhikari and Bhandari.
List of defendants
Pradeep Adhikari, former Director General of CAAN, former Director Murari Bhandari, former Deputy Manager and incumbent Manager Bikram Thapa, former Senior Officer, incumbent Deputy Manager Sambridhi Shrestha, Consultant of Abhiyantra Consulting Pvt. Ltd., Gurudutta Adhikari, former Director of Abhiyantra Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Bijaya Thapa.
Four other individuals named in the charge sheet are reportedly at large.
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