Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against nine persons, including the acting Chief Administrative Officer of Dargathali Rural Municipality of Bajhang, on the charge of embezzling money in a programme aimed at identifying new tourist destinations.

The amount allocated for the temple construction under the approved programme for the fiscal year 2075/76 BS has been found embezzled. According to a study carried out by the commission, Rs 4.5 million was allocated for the construction of the temple of Bathapali Devta at Chhabispathibhera rural municipality-6.

As per the letter along with the budget and programme of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Durgathali rural municipality was given the responsibility of collecting funds, spending, keeping accounts, auditing and settling arrears.

Out of the approved cost estimate of Rs 5.67 million, the budget was Rs 1,107,897 for consumer participation and Rs 225 for contingency. According to the CIAA, the amount worth Rs 2201,665 was paid on the basis of fake bill compensation by charging unnatural rate showing that the work was more than the construction and deducting the amount of public participation as per the agreement.

The anti-graft body has sought Rs 2.21 million from officiating Chief Administrative Officer of Durgathali Rural Municipality Makar Bahadur Mandel, accountant Prem Prasad Poudel, engineer Hikmat Rawal of Chhabispathibhera Rural Municipality and sub-engineer Bam Bahadur Bohara.

Likewise, the Commission has also filed a case against the then vice-chairperson of Chhabispathibhera rural municipality Radhika Kumari Ratala and ward chairperson of ward-6 Mohan Lal BK.

The anti-graft body has also filed a case at the Special Court against Banthapali Devta Temple Construction Committee chair Krishna Bahadur Budha, secretary Jaya Bahadur Budha and treasurer Madhuli Devi Budha.