Army refutes media reports on unnecessary expenditure Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) Pyar Jung Thapa (File photo) The Nepali Army has refuted media reports that there was unnecessary expenditure in a lavish marriage of Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), Pyar Jung Thapa's daughter recently. A clarification letter written by spokesperson of the Nepali Army, Brigadier General, Nepal Bhusan Chand, to Kantipur daily said the news published in some media not only hurt the family members of CoAS Thap, but also his relatives and the bridegroom. The letter refuted the reports that the guests arrived in chartered jet plane and all five star hotels in Kathmandu were booked during the wedding ceremony and made it clear that only 150 guests arrived by a regular flight and stayed in Soaltee Hotel in their own expenditure. The letter further said no unnecessary expenses were made in the marriage as described in the media. Reports earlier said General Thapa spent hefty money in the marriage of his daughter of CoAS Thapa's daughter, Captain Dr Pragya Shree Thapa, with Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad and that the expenditure was against the rules of the country. The reports had further said the five-day marriage ceremony had some 400 guests from the birdegroom's side. Reports quoted sources as saying that dozens of lavish programs were omitted after the news of the wedding appeared in the media. Initially, the wedding procession said to come in chartered jet planes but that was cancelled and the guests came to Nepal in regular planes, following the publication of the news. According to reports, the CoAS received the marriage procession, which began from Soaltee Hotel, at the Hanumanthan Temple, Kupondole at around 4:45 p.m. before the procession reached Shashi Bhawan. Thapa received the groom -- Yub Raj Pratap Singh Rawa, from an Indian royal family. Around 150 armed security personnel both in uniform and plainclothes were mobilised around the temple for the one-minute "receiving ceremony" at the temple. A security source said around seven hundred vehicles of the invitees visited the bride's house. Around 150 vehicles were allowed to enter Shashi Bhawan. Other vehicles were parked at a ground near Sanepa and in front of the house of the former CoAS Gadul Sumsher. Indian artistes performed Mujras to entertain the guests while they were served food prepared at the Soaltee Hotel. nepalnews.com pb May 23 06