KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has seized several key documents from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) office in Sinamangal, Kathmandu, amidst an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in construction projects.
A CIAA team conducted a raid on the CAAN office after the authority reportedly failed to provide important documents related to various airport and building construction projects. These documents are part of a broader investigation into complaints of misconduct within CAAN’s operations.
According to a CIAA source, “Documents were requested as part of the investigation into complaints about irregularities in the construction of airports and the Civil Aviation Authority’s building. However, when certain critical documents were not made available, we had to conduct a raid at the office to secure the necessary information.”
The investigation is reportedly focused on CAAN’s Director General, Pradeep Adhikari, who is suspected of involvement in the irregularities. This development comes as the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament is also conducting a separate inquiry into allegations of corruption in CAAN’s projects.
The issue of corruption and irregularities within public institutions, particularly concerning large infrastructure projects, continues to raise serious concerns about the transparency and accountability of government bodies in Nepal. With both the CIAA and Parliament actively investigating CAAN, the case is expected to highlight the challenges of maintaining oversight in major development initiatives across the country.
Experts have voiced concerns about the impact such scandals could have on Nepal’s business environment, particularly regarding foreign direct investment (FDI) in the aviation and infrastructure sectors. Any further revelations of misconduct may worsen investor confidence and affect ongoing and future projects in Nepal’s rapidly growing aviation industry.
This latest development in the case of CAAN’s alleged misconduct underscores the need for greater accountability and transparency in managing public resources. The outcome of these investigations will likely play a key role in shaping future oversight mechanisms in Nepal’s public sector.
Government authorities are expected to issue a formal statement regarding the investigation’s progress in the coming days, which may shed further light on the extent of the irregularities within the Civil Aviation Authority.