Court Denies Bail to Former Minister Rajkumar Gupta in Corruption Probe

The Special Court on Wednesday ordered the judicial remand of former Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta following a high-profile bribery investigation. A division bench comprising judges Sudarshan Dev Bhatta, Dilli Ratna Shrestha, and Bidur Koirala issued the detention warrant after a preliminary hearing in Kathmandu.

The legal action follows a formal charge sheet filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on October 8, 2025. The anti-graft body has accused the former minister of soliciting bribes totaling 7.8 million NPR to influence administrative decisions.

Specifically, the allegations suggest that Gupta negotiated a payment of 5.3 million NPR to prevent the transfer of a Land Revenue Officer in Kaski. An additional 2.5 million NPR was reportedly sought to facilitate a political appointment as the chairperson of the District Land Commission.

The investigation was significantly advanced by the forensic analysis of a leaked audio recording, which purportedly captures the former minister discussing financial terms with intermediaries. While Gupta has consistently denied the claims, describing them as a misuse of technology, the court found the prima facie evidence sufficient to justify custody.

Evidence submitted to the court by the CIAA included bank records, telephone logs, and photographic evidence of bags allegedly used to transport the funds. The court ruled that Gupta will remain in judicial custody as the trial proceeds to ensure a fair and unobstructed judicial process.

This case has drawn significant public attention, leading to Gupta’s resignation from his ministerial post earlier in July. The outcome of the trial is expected to have broader implications for the government’s stated policy of zero tolerance toward administrative corruption and financial misconduct.