Kathmandu, July 15: Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Rajkumar Gupta, has tendered his resignation following his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal.
Gupta made the announcement via social media on Tuesday, stating that his name had been unfairly linked to a bribery deal and that he was stepping down to ensure a fair investigation. “In recent days, my name has been repeatedly associated with a bribery case. Sometimes, even poison not consumed can take a toll — I have become a victim of such a situation,” he said in his statement.
He added that he resigned from the ministerial position to assist the investigation and to bring the facts to light. “I hope no one else becomes a victim of the misuse of advanced technology,” he said, expressing gratitude to those who had supported him.
Gupta, a CPN-UML leader, was embroiled in controversy after an audio recording surfaced in which a demand for a bribe of NPR 7.8 million was allegedly made in exchange for halting the transfer of the then-chief of the Kaski Land Revenue Office and for appointing someone as chair of the District Land Commission.
The leak sparked outrage, with increasing pressure from both inside and outside the party demanding Gupta’s resignation. Responding to the growing criticism, Gupta stepped down, pledging to fulfill his party responsibilities with honesty and to remain committed to public service.
