Former IGP Rana washes hands off Sudan scam

Former Inspector General of Nepal Police Om Bikam Rana has denied his involvement in irregularities in the purchase of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other equipments for the Nepal Police team deployed in Sudan under the United Nations peace mission.

Speaking at the Reporters Club Thursday, Rana said the payment for the equipments was made after his tenure and those concerned with the disbursement should be held responsible for the alleged corruption. The payment was made without following the regulations, he said, pointing fingers at former IGP Hem Bahadur Gurung and current IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri.

The APCs purchased for the police mission have been found to be more than 40 years old, which went out of use quickly. The United Nations recently declared the Nepal Police team 'ineffective' on grounds of the lack of proper equipment including APCs.

Corruption worth 350 million is suspected in the Rs 440 million purchase deal. The then Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala, then Home Ministry secretary Umesh Mainali, former IGPs Rana and Gurung and incumbent Thakuri are among those suspected of irregularities. nepalnews.com