The Special Court on Wednesday acquitted suspended Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal in a corruption case related to the printing of excise duty stickers.

A division bench comprising Special Court Chairperson Justice Tek Narayan Kunwar and Justices Khushi Prasad Tharu and Ritendra Thapa issued the verdict, clearing Aryal of allegations filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which claimed Aryal's involvement in the printing of excise duty stickers.

The court's verdict stated that the accusations of “malafide intention and collusion” for personal gain, allegedly resulting in financial losses to the government, were not substantiated with evidence. The judgment noted that Aryal's decisions, made as Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications in the absence of precedent and bylaw, did not demonstrate any intent to defraud.

The court further clarified that the budget allocation for the National Security Printing Centre was carried out via the Line Ministry Budgetary System (LMBS), adding that the actions of Aryal and others were in good faith, intending to support a project of national importance.

The acquittal also included consultant Shakti Shrestha, account officer Bishnu Gautam, section officer Hari Ballav Ghimire, Prince Cell Pvt, and its director Keshav Sharma.

However, the court found Executive Director of the Security Printing Centre Bikal Paudel and Director Safal Shrestha guilty, with sentencing to be determined later.

The CIAA had filed charges against 11 individuals and one company, seeking to recover Rs 386 million. The case had been under continuous hearing for five days. -- RSS