Ex-minister Khadka surrenders‚ sent to prison

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Former Minister and Nepali Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka today surrendered himself to the Kathmandu District Court and was later sent to Dillibazaar prison.

Khadka submitted Rs 7.5 million to the court – claiming a concession of 20 per cent on the total fine of Rs 9.4 million slapped on him as he surrendered to the court himself.

Khadka will serve 14 months and 9 days in the jail –– 20 per cent less time than the 18 month-sentence slapped by the Supreme Court on August 14. As per Section 42 of Punishment and Fine Chapter of Muluki Ain, a convict gets 20 per cent discount for cooperating in execution of the verdict.

When Section Chief Punaram Khanal asked Khadka which jail he preferred, Khadka picked Dillibazaar prison. “He said he had already served jail terms in Nakhhu, Bhadragol, Central Jail and Singha Durbar Police Post. He wanted to stay in a different jail this time,” Khanal told The Himalayan Times. Khadka was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in cases such as theft and state offence during the Panchayat era.

“I will stay in jail with pride,” he told mediapersons after surrendering before the court. “Khum Bahadur is not afraid to go to jail,” he added.

“I am ready to go to jail because I respect the apex court,” he said adding, “But the verdict was biased. I will file a review petition against it and I am confident that justice will be served.”

Stating that nobody can stop him from fighting for the sovereignty of country, he also added that he never worked against the nation or the people but he was made a victim by Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Baidhya Nath Upadhayay. He alleged that the verdict was part of a conspiracy to prevent him from running in the next election.

‘Corrupt lot beware’

KATHMANDU: Chairman of Transparency International, Nepal Bishnu Bahadur KC, said former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka’s conviction has given a clear message to the country’s leaders who have been involved in corruption. “One day they may face the same fate,” KC told The Himalayan Times. “This case sends a clear message that justice may be delayed but would not be denied.” He, however, expressed concern over the defunct status of the Commission for the Investigation of abuse of Authority (CIAA). “I want to suggest parties to immediately fill the vacancies in the CIAA,” he added.

Gupta to be his mate

KATHMANDU: Former minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, who was recently convicted in a corruption case, will serve his prison sentence in Block A of the Dillibazaar prison. A security official at the jail informed that Khadka would live together with former minister Jaya Prasad Gupta and 10 other jailbirds at a shared room. “A small compartment has been made for Khadka. He will not be given special treatment,” the official said. Security has been beefed up in the jail after Khadka’s entry into the correction centre. It is learnt that Khadka had been to the jail last week to take stock of the prison. During the visit, he had also conferred with Gupta. Khadka, like other jailbirds and inmates, will get 700 gram rice and allowance of Rs 45 a day as per the law.