KATHMANDU: A team from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) visited the Special Court on Sunday to initiate legal proceedings against Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal on corruption charges.

The corruption case involving Chief Secretary Aryal and others is currently being reviewed by court officials.

Once the review process concludes, the case will be formally registered. The charges stem from irregularities in the procurement of excise duty stickers.

This marks the first instance in Nepal where a serving Chief Secretary faces allegations of corruption. Aryal assumed the role of Chief Secretary on June 15, 2023, following his appointment by the government.

Upon the filing of the corruption case, Aryal will be automatically suspended from his position.

He was initially set to retire from his five-year term as Secretary on June 17, 2023, but was appointed Chief Secretary a few days earlier. Prior to his current position, Aryal served as Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Additionally, the CIAA is preparing to file further corruption cases against Chief Secretary Aryal related to other ongoing investigations.