KATHMANDU: The Special Court has ordered pre-trial detention of former minister for general administration, Rajkumar Gupta.

A joint bench of Special Court judges Sudarshan Dev Bhatta, Dilli Ratna Shrestha and Bidur Koirala on Wednesday ordered the detention of former minister Gupta who faces charges of taking bribes while in office.

Special Court Spokesperson Krishna Sharan Lamichhane confirmed that the court has sent Gupta into judicial custody for further investigation into the matter.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) started investigating Gupta following the release of an audio in which Gupta is heard trying to strike a bribe deal over the transfer of government employees, especially Land Revenue Officers.

The CIAA started the investigation against Gupta after the audio was leaked. The constitutional anti-graft body filed a case against seven people, including Gupta, at the Special Court on October 8, 2025.

The CIAA has accused Gupta of taking Rs 7.8 million in bribes to halt the transfer of the chief land revenue officer of a Land Revenue Office in Kaski.

Former minister and Nagarik Unmukti Party leader Ranjita Shrestha, too, is implicated in the corruption case.