Special Court Acquits Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and 12 Others in Corruption Case

The Special Court has acquitted 14 individuals, including Gajendra Maharjan, the Mayor of Godawari Municipality, and Muna Adhikari, the Deputy Mayor, in a high-profile corruption case related to the extraction, distribution, and sale of sand and stone.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had brought charges against these individuals, which included eight municipal employees, seven mine operators, and seven companies. The CIAA accused them of failing to properly collect revenue and value-added tax (VAT) associated with the mining operations.

Despite the allegations, the court’s bench—comprising Chairman Tek Narayan Kuwar and members Tej Narayan Singh Rai and Ritendra Thapa—delivered a verdict that cleared all 14 individuals of any wrongdoing. The court found insufficient evidence to support the charges brought by the CIAA, leading to the acquittal of the accused.

The decision marks a significant outcome in a case that had attracted considerable public attention, with the accused individuals and companies denying any involvement in corrupt activities. The verdict is expected to have implications for future investigations and prosecutions related to municipal operations and resource extraction.