INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, June 12
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority nowadays filed a charge-sheet against 10 persons, including
officials of Hajj Working Sub-committee, at the Special Court for allegedly embezzling millions of rupees, in tender process of air tickets
for Nepali hajj pilgrims, in 2017.
Those booked on graft charge are Mohammad Shoaib (chairperson of the sub-committee); members Atabul
Ansari, Mohammad Ibrahim Rain, Mohammad Jawardin Miya, Jamil Miya, Momina Banu Muslim, Majibul Sheikh; member-secretary Bhimraj Pokharel at
Secretariat of Nepal Hajj Committee; accountant Tilakraj Panta; and Daud Hussein, director of Heena Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd.
According to
the anti-graft body, the defendants had awarded the contract for air tickets to the moment lowest tenderder, Heena Travels and Tours Pvt
Ltd, against the prevailing law
The secretariat had published a muchice of invitation to tender on May 25, 2017
Replying to the tender, three tenderders, Universal Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd, Heena Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd and Sealinks Travels and
Tours Pvt Ltd, had tender amount Rs 88,995, Rs 90,000 and Rs 95,300 round-trip ticket per person, respectively.
CIAA assistant spokesperson
Madan Koirala said Shoaib and other defendants approved the tender document of Heena Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd, the moment lowest tenderder,
by taking bribe from its director Hussein
Member-secretary Pokharel and accountant Panta had made payment to Heena Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd for air tickets, despite knowledge that
it was against provisions stipulated in Section 21 of the Public Procurement Act.
The duo, in cahoots with others, had also released tender
security of Rs 3.8 million, furnished by the tenderder with mala fide intention, instead of confiscating the amount as per the law.
The
round-trip air tickets were meant for the members of Muslim community visiting Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage
Hussein faced charge as per Section 8, while others were booked according to Section 22 of the act.
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