KATHMANDU: Nepal Army has started an investigation into the case of alleged financial irregularities by Lieutenant Colonel Janmat Karki while he was working at 27 Number Brigade under Mid Eastern Division.
According to an army source, the Nepal Army has initiated a probe into the alleged embezzlement by Lieutenant Colonel Janmat Karki following a written complaint against him at the Directorate of Ombudsman.
The Nepal Army has formed an investigation committee under Colonel Bhuwan Khatri after a written complaint of financial irregularities was lodged. Major Shiva Ram Sapkota is another member of the investigation committee. According to the source, Chief of the Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa has directed the committee to submit its investigation report within two days.
Lieutenant Colonel Karki was summoned to the Mid Eastern Division on Friday for his interrogation. Karki was transferred to Pokhara Western Division Headquarters from Mid Eastern Division Headquarters.
Based on the report of the committee, it will be decided whether to investigate any involvement of Brigade Commander Pankaj Karki. In the written complaint, Lieutenant Colonel Karki has been accused of taking Brigade Commander Karki into confidence while carrying out such irregularities.
It has been revealed that Brigade Commander Pankaj Karki had provided the responsibility of operation to Janmat even when there was a senior officer. Brigade Commander Pankaj Karki had chosen Janmat over Lieutenant Colonel Dinesh Rajauriya (now Colonel) to provide the responsibility of operation.
Janmat is also accused of abusing lower-rung officers by taking advantage of the preference. The army source said that other commanders of Bhim Dal, Shrinath Dal, Shrinath Gan and Sher Gan were also fed up with Janmat’s behaviors. A Colonel in the brigade has also filed a defamation complaint against Janmat, according to the source.
Kathmandu Pati tried to contact Janmat for his comment, but he declined to be interviewed. This is not the first case that has drawn him into controversy. Earlier, he was also accused of irregularities in the recruitment for Number 27 Brigade. It was also revealed that he misused brigade commander Baburam Shrestha. It was due to Karki which resulted in Shrestha facing warning.
