Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli summoned Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta to Baluwatar on Monday for questioning regarding an audio recording of his alleged involvement in a Rs 7.8 million "bribe deal."
According to a Baluwatar source, PM Oli called Minister Gupta to Baluwatar at 10:45 a.m. on Monday and questioned him for about half an hour, but has not made any decision regarding him.
A source close to the prime minister said that PM Oli was still holding discussions on the matter.
Immediately after the discussion with Minister Gupta, the prime minister attended various public events. A cabinet meeting is scheduled for this evening, followed by a meeting of top leaders from the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal.
The Baluwatar source also claimed that PM Oli is preparing to reshuffle his Cabinet. However, the prime minister has not made a decision on whether to remove Minister Gupta during the reshuffle or ask for his resignation immediately, the source added.
“There’s also talk of removing him during the reshuffle. Since the prime minister attended pre-scheduled events right after the discussion, he hasn’t shared details about the conversation,” the source said.
When we contacted Minister Gupta for clarification, he denied being summoned by the prime minister. He said that he would go to Baluwatar even at midnight if summoned by the prime minister, but no such call was received on Monday.
“I haven’t been summoned at all. The prime minister can call me anytime, and I would never refuse to go. But no call has come today,” he claimed.
Gupta further said that he was at the ministry until a short while ago and had come to the minister’s quarters for a meal.
Gupta has maintained that he is ready to have his voice examined and that no money has been deposited into either his personal or the ministry’s accounts.
“It’s been said that I received 7.8 million rupees in bribe, but who gave me that money?” Minister Gupta told Setopati.
