KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court in a corruption case linked to the Pokhara International Airport, alleging irregularities of over Rs 3.62 billion.

The CIAA has named former minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, senior government officials, and the Chinese contractor company CAMC Engineering Company Limited as defendants for causing financial loss to the state through improper tax exemptions.

According to the CIAA, although the original agreement required the contractor to pay taxes and duties, an implementation agreement was used to grant tax exemptions.

The commission also said that taxes collected through payments were not deposited into the state treasury, resulting in double benefit to the contractor and loss to the government.

The alleged irregularity amounts to Rs 3,62,05,22,160, according to the CIAA.

Those charged include former finance minister Karki, former secretaries, senior government officials, and top executives of the contractor company, including its chairman Wang Bo and project manager Yang Zhigang.

The CIAA has sought punishment, fines, and recovery of the amount under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case is considered one of Nepal’s largest infrastructure-related corruption cases.