KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a major corruption case against 55 individuals, including five former ministers, for alleged irregularities worth billions in the China-funded Pokhara International Airport project. The case, filed at a special court on Sunday, marks one of the country’s largest anti-graft actions involving high-ranking political and administrative officials.
According to CIAA assistant spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari, the accused have been charged with misappropriating over Nepali rupees (NRs) 8.36 billion during the construction of the airport, which was built using a soft loan from China. The project has long faced questions regarding inflated costs, contract transparency, and the role of Chinese entities in pushing debt-laden infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Among those named in the charge sheet are former ministers Ram Sharan Mahat, Bhim Prasad Acharya, the late Post Bahadur Bogati, Ram Kumar Shrestha, and Dipak Chandra Amatya. Additionally, 10 former secretaries and senior officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), including former Director Generals Tri Ratna Maharjan, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, and sitting DG Pradeep Adhikari, have been implicated.
The Chinese contractor, China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd., and its representatives in Nepal have also been sued, reflecting the CIAA’s expanded focus on foreign companies involved in public infrastructure projects.
Pokhara International Airport, inaugurated in January 2023, was envisioned as a key gateway to the Annapurna Circuit and a major boost to Nepal’s tourism sector. However, nearly two years since opening, it has not received any scheduled international passenger flights, raising concerns about feasibility studies, loan viability, and the actual need for such a large-scale airport.
Analysts say the new corruption charges may intensify scrutiny of China-backed projects in Nepal, especially those criticized for opaque agreements and questionable financial models. The special court is expected to begin hearings soon, marking a significant step in Nepal’s ongoing battle against high-level corruption.
