Sunil Paudel Convicted in National Payment Gateway Corruption Case

The Special Court has delivered its verdict in the National Payment Gateway corruption case, finding Sunil Paudel, the former Executive Director of the National Information Technology Center and Managing Director of Nepal Telecom, guilty of corruption charges. However, the court acquitted eight individuals, including Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini, in the same case.

Chairman Teknarayan Kunwar and member Murari Babu Shrestha of the Special Court found Sunil Paudel guilty. Yagyaraj Regmi, information officer of the special court, confirmed that Paudel’s sentencing will be determined on the 25th of Baisakh.

The case revolves around allegations that the National Payment Gateway, purchased six years ago, was never utilized due to the connivance and planning of the then Executive Director of the National Information Technology Center. The court found that the procurement of the gateway incurred unreasonable costs amounting to 25 million Nepalese rupees, resulting in illegal damage to government property and misuse of public funds.

Those acquitted by the court include Sanjay Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology and former Chairman of the National Information Technology Center, Pranita Upadhyay, former Executive Director of the National Information Technology Center, Safal Shrestha, former Director and current Deputy Director of the National Information Technology Center, and Madhu Kumar Marasini, the current Secretary. Others acquitted are Ramesh Prasad Pokharel alias Ramesh Pokharel, Nim Bahadur Wali, Ram Bahadur Budha, and Ram Sharan Gaik, who held various positions at the National Information Technology Center at the time of the alleged corruption.

The case had claimed damages totaling 23 crore 27 lakh 58 thousand 77 Nepalese rupees.