Vice-chairman of the Medical Education Commission Sri Krishna Giri has lodged a defamation case against promoter of B&C Medical College Durga Prasai.
Giri, who was accused by Prasai of demanding Rs 200 million in bribe to start affiliation process for his medical college, has moved the Kathmandu District Court on Tuesday. "I have lodged the case after he defamed me making false and imaginary allegations," Giri told Setopati.
Prasai had lodged complaint against Giri with the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation on Monday.
Prasai, who had made the allegations organizing a press conference on January 8, again called a press conference on Tuesday reiterating the allegations. "He has apparently lodged a court case. I will get an opportunity to put my version before the court. The legal battle will continue in the court," Prasai told Setopati.
Prasai, who had reached the commission on December 1 with an application for affiliation, claimed that Giri called him in the evening at Dwarika's Hotel and asked for bribe. "I said I cannot give when he demanded Rs 200 million," Prasai stated organizing a press conference in Baneshwore on Janaury 8. "Rs 2-2.50 million or even Rs 10 million would have been appropriate."
He accused that Giri refused to even register the application after his refusal to pay the bribe. "He pointed how he got appointed to the commission and added he also is squeezed," Prasai relayed the conversation. "He said Rs 20 million when I asked how much. Can anyone run a medical college by paying Rs 200 million for affiliation alone?"
The police can check CCTV footage to verify if Giri had gone to the hotel as claimed by Prasai if the court seeks evidence.
Giri has refuted the allegations. Giri confirmed that Prasai had come with application but refuted the allegations of bribe and stated that allegations should be made only with evidence. "He had come. One cannot initiate affiliation process merely after someone comes with a direct application," Giri had pointed. "The application was not registered asking him to bring all original documents as required by the Medical Education Act."
Prasai is close to CPN Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal while Giri is close to Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel who comes from the erstwhile Maoist party headed by Dahal.
