KATHMANDU: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balaram Adhikari has firmly denied any involvement in the bribery scandal that has dominated political discourse over the past three days.

The controversy erupted after an audio recording surfaced featuring a conversation between Federal Affairs Minister Raj Kumar Gupta and a middleman, allegedly discussing appointments to the chairperson of the Land Commission in Kaski and the chief of the Land Revenue Office.

In the leaked clip, Minister Gupta is heard claiming that Minister Adhikari had already received payment and would therefore not proceed with the appointments.

Addressing the allegations during Monday’s session of the House of Representatives, Minister Adhikari said he had been wrongly implicated in a conversation he was not part of and had no knowledge about.

“I was dragged into a deal that I had absolutely no role in,” he said, stressing that appointments do not fall under his portfolio.

“Mentioning someone’s name in a private conversation does not make it factual,” Adhikari told Parliament. “If there is any evidence of bribery involving me, I am ready to face legal action.”

In addition to defending himself, Adhikari called on lawmakers to prioritize and expedite the passage of a land-related bill currently under deliberation.

Meanwhile, demands for the resignation of both ministers have intensified in Parliament.