The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Monday filed a corruption case against Kosh Raj Onta, the suspended chief of the Armed Police Force (APF), on the charge of misappropriating Rs 60.71 million by preparing fake documents in collusion with contractors and junior officials. The charge sheet filed at the Special Court has accused 11 individuals—nine APF officials including Onta and two suppliers—accusing them of massive financial irregularities. The charge sheet states that Onta had prepared fake documents in cahoots with APF Inspector Bin Bahadur Thapa, Sub-Inspectors Nil Bahadur Shrestha, Devendra Kumar Shrestha, Lekh Bahadur Khatri, and Milan Adhikari, an APF policeman. The fake documents, according to the charge sheet, was prepared at the APF headquarters in the name of bogus firms, Sada Jyoti Suppliers, and Aditi Transports, with the intent of embezzling millions from the state coffers. None of the accused was produced before the court when the charge sheet was filed. “We have already collected Rs 100 million from Onta as bail, so they were not produced before the court,” said CIAA Spokesperson Krishna Hair Pushkar.

On December 18, the government had suspended Onta on the recommendation of the anti-graft boy. The CIAA has also started an investigation into Onta’s three former IGPs--BasudevOli, Shailendra Shrestha, and Sanat Kumar Basnet--for their involvement in misusing state coffers while supplying logistics to APF units. Preliminary investigations show Oli, Shrestha, and Basnet too were involved in embezzling money during their stay in the office. Oli, Shrestha, and Basnet were released after they posted Rs 7 million, Rs 10 million, and Rs 80 million respectively as bail. Sources privy to the investigation say the anti-graft body is preparing to file corruption cases against the three ex-IGPs soon. “Investigation is at the final stage,” said Pushkar.