KATHMANDU: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has filed a case with the court implicating former directors general of the Department of Transport Management in the issuance of fake driving licenses. The accused claim to have acted under higher orders, although the source of these orders remains undisclosed. Investigations into the matter have resulted in two separate prosecutions being registered with the District Government Attorney Office, with the court concluding the detention hearing and issuing a sentencing order for the first prosecution.

The Kathmandu District Court has granted bail to Suraj Prakash Aryal, a former engineer at the Department of Transport Management, who played a pivotal role in issuing fake licenses, along with seven others. Similarly, Narayan Prasad Pandey, a computer operator at the Transport Management Office in Butwal, was also required to post bail. Both individuals asserted that they had acted under higher orders but professed ignorance regarding the source of these directives

Harish Bhatta, another former engineer at the Department of Transport Management, was also granted bail by the district court. However, the District Government Attorney Office is preparing to bring another case against him, investigating allegations of document forgery and signature forgery. The investigation officer from the CIB stated that inquiries into the officials responsible for issuing the orders are ongoing, emphasizing that this is just the beginning of the investigation.

The case centers around a scheme where individuals, including Shashank Basyal, were provided with fake licenses to avoid legal consequences, particularly after being involved in accidents resulting in fatalities. The CIB has filed cases against several defendants, including Basyal and his father, as well as individuals involved in printing and distributing fake licenses. The Department of Transport Management's implementation of a 'fast printing' system allegedly facilitated the issuance of licenses based on fraudulent documents, with bribes ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000.

The CIB has accused individuals involved in the issuance of fake licenses of sending collected money to higher-level employees within the Department of Transport Management. Notably, Aryal and Bhatta's gang facilitated the provision of licenses, including 'B' category licenses to individuals with disabilities, leading to instances of individuals driving without proper licenses. The gang, along with other accomplices, engaged in tampering with license details and orchestrating financial transactions to provide fake licenses, contributing to a broader network of corruption within the Department of Transport Management.