KATHMANDU, March 20: Police on Thursday arrested three more individuals in connection with their involvement bomb blast at former Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota’s house in Lokanthali Bhaktapur.

According to SSP Sahakul Thapa, a team of the Metropolitan Crime Division held Laxman Shetti and Amrit Kumal of Kailali and Abhishek Giri of Kalikote.

The arrestees will be made public on Friday.

A pressure cooker bomb had gone off at Baskota’s house on the morning of March 11. No injuries and casualties were reported.

A hand out was recovered from the blast site which claimed that the bomb was detonated by the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ as “punishment for Baskota’s corruption”.

Baskota subsequently resigned from his post on February 20 after an audio conversation of him negotiating for Rs 700 million bribe with a local Swiss company over a contract for security printing press was leaked in the social media.

The police had arrested CPN Bhaktapur District Committee member Dev Bahadur Gurung from Jadibuti hours after the explosion. 

KATHMANDU, March 11: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal has condemned an explosion of improvised explosive device (IED) at the under-construction private residence of former Minister Gokul Prasad Baskota at Bhaktapur this morning.

In a press statement today, he said an unidentified group exploded a pressure cooker bomb targeting the house of NCP central committee member and House of Representatives (HoR) member Baskota at Lokanthali of Madhyapur municipality-1 and the explosion caused damage in the house

”I, personally and on behalf of the party, denounce the criminal incident and draw the government’s attention towards finding out the guilty and taking a stern legal action against the culprits.” RSS

POLICE ARREST CPN DISTRICT MEMBER IN CONNECTION WITH THE BLAST

KATHMANDU, March 11: The Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chanda ‘Biplav’ caused the explosion at former Communication and Information Technology Minister Gokul Baskota’s private house in Lokanthali as “punishment for his corruption”, according to a report.

A pressure cooker bomb went off at Baskota’s under-construction house today morning, causing damages to the compound wall, a parked mini-van and his neighbor’s house. No injuries were reported.

Baskota, who resigned on Feb 20 following the Rs 700 million bribe deal controversy, has been living in Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s house in Balkot since he was appointed the minister.

A handout recovered by eratokhabar entitled “Why punish corrupt Baskota!” from the blast site — in which Chand group admits to the blast — has pointed out a number of reasons for punishing the ex-minister.

According to the handout, published by the online portal, the CPN punished Baskota for misusing his position as government spokesperson to commit corruption, for demanding Rs 700 million bribe in planned procurement of security printing press, embezzling millions of rupees in the procurement of satellite worth Rs 24 billion, expansion of 4G service worth 19 billion, expansion of optical fiber worth Rs 10 billion and masterminding the restriction of CPN. 

Meanwhile, the police have held CPN Bhaktapur District Committee member Dev Gurung from Jadibuti in connection with the explosion.

Gurung has been taken to Metropolitan Police Range, Teku for interrogation.

BHAKTAPUR, March 11: A pressure cooker bomb went off at former Communication and Information Technology Minister Gokul Baskota’s house in Lokanthali, Bhaktapur on Wednesday.

According to the locals, the bomb went off at around 7:45 am at the gate of Baskota private house, which is under construction.

Baskota, who stepped down for the post following a Rs 700 million bribe deal controversy on Feb 20, has been living at Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s house in rent in Balkota since he was appointed minister.

According to Deputy Superintendant of Police at Metropolitan Police Circle, Shanti Raj Koirala, the explosion caused partial damage to the wall and glass of the house of the former minister. The glasses of a private van (Ba 19 Cha 4781) were also broken in the incident, he further informed.

The bomb explosion also smashed the window panes of the houses of Kuver KC and Kapil Ghimire which are adjacent to the house of the ex-minister. DSP Koirala said the investigation into the incident of bomb detonation is underway.

No casualties have been reported.

Photos: Dil Kumar Ale Magar

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Former Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota has filed a libel and defamation case against Bijaya Kumar Mishra at the Kathmandu District Court on Friday.

Baskota stepped down on moral ground on Feb 20 after he was dragged into controversy following the leak of an audio conversation between him and Mishra, a Swiss company agent, where the ex-minister is heard negotiation for Rs 700 million bribe in return for awarding Mishra the contract of procurement of security printing press worth Rs 26 billion.

Mishra had reportedly leaked the audiotape after failing to secure the contract.

Baskota, in his complaint, has claimed that the accusation put against him is false.

Information officer at the court, Gyan Bahadur Karki confirmed the filing of the case by Banskota.

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The shadow government of the main opposition party Nepali Congress held its first meeting on Sunday, nine months after it was formed.

The meeting chaired by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba discussed current politics and the performance of the government, according to NC’s parliamentary party leader of the National Assembly (NA) Surendra Raj Pandey.

The meeting has directed the shadow cabinet to launch an investigation into the recent Gokul Baskota commission deal in the procurement process of the security printing press and other corruption charges against the government.

Baskota resigned on Thursday after he was caught bargaining for Rs 700 million commission with a Swiss company agent in a leaked audio conversation.

The shadow government has also called a joint meeting of the opposition parties of the parliament to discuss and decide on how to proceed with the upcoming house meeting. 

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Gokul Baskota’s Rs 700 million commission deal controversy is just an episode of the government’s institutionalized corruption, said Nepali Congress leader Prakash Saran Mahat.

The government led by Nepal Communist Party Chair K P Sharma Oli is under a huge pressure from public and opposition parties after former minister Gokul Baskota’s bargain for 70 percent share out of Rs 700 million commission over the planned procurement of security printing press worth Rs 27 billion came out in the open in the form of an audio recording.

Baskota resigned from his post as Minister for Communication and Information Technology on Thursday hours after the audio leak following public pressure. 

But it is not enough. The bribe deal controversy from PM’s Oli’s most favorite and trusted minister is a serious blow to the prime minister’s dictum of “corruption-free society”.

“The security printing press scam is clear proof of the government’s institutionalized corruption. Baskota’s audiotape controversy is just an episode,” said Mahat speaking a face-to-face interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

“The Baskota controversy has made people think if they did a great mistake election the Nepal Communist Party in the election.”

“The “Zero-tolerance to corruption” is only limited to slogans. It has been proved,” Mahat added.

Many believe the prime minister himself is involved in the security printing press scam since he did not think it important to initiate action against Baskota if even after being aware of the Rs 700 million commission deal.

Swiss company agent Bijaya Prakash Mishra, who is believed to have leaked the audio and was involved in the audio conversation himself, has revealed he had told the prime minister about the audio.

“Baskota was directed from above and is protected. A serious and fair investigation should be launched into it. 

“The prime minister should shoulder the responsibility and answer to the parliament about the Baskota controversy,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Nepal Communist Party (Revolutionary) Vice-chair CP Gajurel thinks Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is “somehow involved” in the Security Press Scam since he was mum despite being aware of the former Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota’s Rs 700 million bribe deal.

Gokul Baskota was forced to resign “on moral grounds” on Thursday after an audio recording of him bargaining for a share of commission with a local agent of a Swiss company, Bijaya Prakash Mishra, over the procurement of security printing press was leaked in the social media.

In the audio conversation, which is believed to have leaked by Mishra, the duo settles for a 70-30 percent deal out of Rs 700 million commission gained from the planned procurement worth Rs 27 billion. Baskota is also heard asking to raise the cost estimate to Rs 28 billion to increase the commission margin.

Baskota is one of the closest confidantes of PM Oli and has long been favored by the prime minister, which has led many to believe that Oli was aware of Baskota’s bribe deal.

Even Mishra has revealed that he had taken the audio to the prime minister two months ago. 

Oli praising Baskota publicly days before the audiotape scandal, and his inaction toward his most trusted character despite being aware of the bribe deal has raised questions if the prime minister himself was directly or indirectly involved in the deal.

“Why did not Oli take any initiative to take action against Baskota even if he knew about the audio two months ago? What motivated him to neglect it?” questioned Gajurel, while speaking at a face-to-face interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

“PM Oli’s inaction shows he is somehow involved in the security press scam”, he added.

A secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party on Saturday concluded the party will launch a separate investigation into the security press scam handing the probe duty to Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

But Gajurel does not believe the CIAA’s investigation into Baskota bribe controversy will be fair.

“I have doubts the CIAA will launch a fair investigation into the case. The CIAA is the shadow of the government. I think the government is intending to give a clean chit to Baskota.

“Baskota’s resignation is not enough. I have heard Baskota was planning to pocket Rs 1 billion commission from about seven planned projects,” he added. 

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: The Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal has clarified that the embassy has neither requested any meeting with Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota nor any meeting with the minister is foreseen in the near future.

The embassy’s response comes after the leakage of an audio recording of the conversation between Baskota and a local agent Bijaya Prakash Mishra in which they talk about the expected visit of the Swiss Embassy representatives to sign the MoU on the procurement of security printing press.

Responding to a report based on the leaked audio published by myrepublica.com, in which it says the agent belongs to a Swiss Company, the embassy said they are not involved in the dealing with the person as mentioned in the report.

“The Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal wishes to make clear that no meeting has been requested by this Embassy, nor is any meeting foreseen with Minister for Communication and Information Technology in the near future on the topic mentioned in the article,” the embassy stated in a press release.

“The embassy is neither aware nor involved in the dealing of the person quoted in the article as the local agent of a Swiss Company,” the press release further reads.

Baskota came to controversy after he, in the leaked audio clip, is heard making a bargain for 70 percent cut out of Rs 700 million commission with the agent in return for awarding the contract of procurement of security printing press worth Rs 25 or 25 billion to the company.

Baskota resigned from his post as Information Minister today afternoon “on moral grounds”.

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: Gokul Baskota has said he stepped down as the Minister for Communication and Information Technology on moral ground.

Baskota tendered his resignation from the post to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli today afternoon hours after the leakage of a controversial audio recording of the conversation between him and a local agent of Swiss Company, in which the minister is heard negotiating for a share of commission worth Rs 700 million with the agent in return for awarding the security printing press procurement contract worth Rs 25 or 26 billion to the company.

“Since questions have been raised about me, I want to inform that I have tendered my resignation to the prime minister on moral grounds,” Baskota tweeted.