Special Court asks authority to issue arrest warrant against former NOC Chief Khadka

KATHMANDU : The Special Court on Monday asked Nepal Police to issue an arrest warrant against controversial Gopal Bahadur Khadka, the then managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

A joint bench of judges Yamuna Bhattarai, Bal Bhadra Bastola and Khusi Prasad Tharu gave the order after Khadka failed to appear for hearings called by the court. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on January 7, 2019 had filed a corruption case against Khadka at the Special Court on the charge of amassing illegal property worth more than Rs 180.66 million during his tenure at NOC.

The CIAA found that Khadka had misappropriated funds in the land acquisition deal of NOC for the construction of oil storage facilities across the country, especially in Chitwan, Rupandehi, Sarlahi and Jhapa. Under the supervision of Khadka, NOC purchased plots of land at four-times inflated prices than the existing market rates.

Since his appointment to the top post at NOC in January 2015, Khadka had been involved in several controversies. The CIAA had also sought confiscation of Rs 70 million appropriated by Khadka to his near and dear ones.