Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a charge-sheet at the Special Court against 11 persons, including the then acting Chief Administrative Officer, on the charge of irregularities in the purchase and distribution of hand pumps in Aurahi municipality of Mahottari.

According to the commission, in the fiscal year 2079÷80, the municipality was found to have limited competition by dividing the procurement process by preparing cost estimates against the Public Procurement Act and Regulations while purchasing hand pumps and tube wells. According to the CIAA’s investigation, the purchase of the same item was divided multiple times and the payment was made in collusion with the suppliers.

The anti-graft body has sought Rs 3,613,031 each against then Acting Chief Administrative Officer Nilambar Mishra Maithali and then accountant Bijay Kumar Yadav.

The anti-graft body has also filed a charge sheet against then engineer Santosh Kumar Yadav and sub-engineer Bipin Kumar Mandal while the then Jinsi section chief Shiva Shankar Yadav has been found guilty of Rs 1,563,581. Likewise, the then Planning Section Chief Ganga Ram Yadav has been slapped with a claim of Rs 3,613,031.

The CIAA has also demanded action against various suppliers and operators for their alleged involvement in irregularities. Binay Kumar Yadav, proprietor of Leela Iron Stores, and Dudhnath Kumar, proprietor of DM General Order Suppliers, have been fined Rs 1,189,471.

Similarly, proprietor of Shree Ram Enterprises Amarnath Kumar has been fined Rs 220,197, proprietor of Jaiswal Construction Service (Srijana Traders) Ram Babu Chaudhary has been fined Rs 709,623 and Managing Director of Quality Solutions Company Pvt Ltd Manoj Kumar Yadav has been fined Rs 711,900.

The NHRC has demanded fine, imprisonment and recovery of fine against civil servants for their involvement in the offence as per Clause 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 and Clause 22 of the same Act against the suppliers. According to the commission, the supplier company has been asked to be punished as per the law.