RCCC charges Deuba with corruption, demands NRs 38 lakh bail: - News from Associate Press, SHIRISH B PRADHAN KATHMANDU, MAY 4 (PTI) Nepal's powerful anti-corruption body today charged former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba with alleged misappropriation of government funds while in office and demanded from him a bail amount of Nepali Rs 38.68 lakh (Rs 25 lakh approx), which he refused to pay. "The commission has found out that Deuba had misappropriated the Prime Minister's Relief Fund while in office," Prem Raj Karki, a spokesman of the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) said. The Commission also asked for a bail amount of NRs 38.68 lakh from him, which is equivalent to the money distributed from the Prime Minister's fund to different people at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers last year. However, Deuba refused to pay the sum questioning the constitutionality of the Royal Commission, appointed by Nepal King Gynendra after the February 1 power grab. He yesterday also refused to testify before the commission. The RCCC today grilled Deuba at its office at Nayabaneshwor for four hours while about 200 of his supporters, mainly students and youths, shouted anti-government slogans in front of the office demanding Deuba's release, said Gopal Man Shrestha, acting President of the Nepali Congress (Democratic). Deuba was again taken back to the police custody at the Police Training Centre, Maharajgung after he refused to pay the bail amount. RCCC had launched investigation against Deuba on charges of alleged irregularity in distribution of PM's relief fund and in awarding a contract of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project funded by Asian Development Bank. Police arrested Deuba last Wednesday after he rejected a commission summons. Earlier, he spent weeks under house arrest following his dismissal. Deuba told RCCC that the action was politically motivated, so he would not give any explanation to the commission, NC (Democratic) leader Shrestha said. "I won't respond to the RCCC as I do not recognise it", he quoted Deuba as saying. On the same case today, six former ministers were also summoned at the RCCC, where they were asked for further explanation regarding the matter and later released as they have already paid the bail amount. - News from Associate Press, India.