Fugitive Physical Infrastructure Minister of Karnali and contractor Khadga Bahadur Khatri has five road contracts worth around Rs 700 million in the province in a clear case of conflict of interest.
Minister Khatri, who was elected to the provincial assembly from Surkhet-1(B) on a CPN-UML ticket, is currently absconding after the Patan High Court issued an arrest warrant on a banking offense case on Monday.
Khatri, who provided bank guarantee for a contract, has been accused of forging documents for two bank guarantee worth Rs 11 million.
KSK Construction owned by Khatri, his kid brother Lokesh and another Surya Khatri, is constructing Botechaur-Dharapani road (Rs 168.20 million), Suwaghat-Pipaltar road (Rs 124.50 million), Ratnarajmarga-Nayagaun-Sanosurkhet road (Rs 217.40 million), Pipira-Deutibajyai-Amritdanda road (Rs 173.0 million) and Mathillo Dungeshwore-Dullu-Pipalkot road (Rs 18.70 million).
Physical Infrastructure Minister Khatri has been overseeing these contracts as a line minister in a clear case of conflict of interest. Khatri's ministry has been monitoring these projects brought by the provincial government last year.
Progress of none of these projects is satisfactory. "Progress of these roads is not satisfactory. The contractor is minister's company. What can we say?" an officer at the Divisional Road Office, Surkhet told Setopati.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, that has been investigating the case of banking offense filed by Ratna Park branch of Agriculture Development Bank Limited, has claimed that the court order instructing Minister Khatri be presented to the court has not reached the police even in three days.
"We will present him to the court immediately after we get the letter," CIB Chief DIG Niraj Bahadur Shahi told Setopati.
