CIAA Files Corruption Case Over NRP 3.21 Billion Loss in Telecom Monitoring System Procurement The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has
filed a corruption case at the Special Court against 16 individuals and two companies related to the procurement of the Telecommunications Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (TERAMOCS). The CIAA is seeking over NRP 3.21 billion in damages, accusing the defendants of causing significant losses to the state. Among those named are Nepali Congress lawmaker and former minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet, former Law Secretary Dhanaraj Gyawali, and several former NTA officials including chairpersons Digambar Jha and Purushottam Khanal.
TERAMOCS is a technology designed for lawful interception and monitoring of telecom voice and data traffic to detect fraud and ensure service quality. The NTA acquired this system to verify that telecom providers charge customers fairly and maintain service standards. The case follows a Public Accounts Committee request in December 2023 for CIAA to investigate suspected procurement irregularities.
CIAA Appeals Special Court Verdict on National Payment Gateway Corruption Case The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has
filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the Special Court’s decision in the corruption case involving irregularities in the National Payment Gateway procurement system. The CIAA challenged the Special Court ruling as erroneous and deemed the penalties imposed on the defendants insufficient. The appeal names nine individuals, including Sanjay Sharma and Pranita Upadhyay, accused of misappropriating NPR 250 million by bypassing budget procedures and failing to follow proper procurement protocols at the National Information Technology Center (NITC).
The appeal highlights that the NITC did not coordinate adequately with stakeholders, neglected mandatory public procurement processes, and made questionable decisions based on false information, leading to premature payments before contract completion. The Special Court had partially acquitted the accused in its May 7, 2024 ruling, prompting the CIAA to file this appeal on May 8, 2025.
Patan High Court Upholds Press Council’s Authority Over Online Media On May 13, 2025, the Patan High Court
quashed a writ petition filed by Diyo Post that challenged the Press Council Nepal’s (PCN) jurisdiction over online media. The joint bench of Judges Munendra Awasthi and Tikaram Acharya ruled that PCN holds the authority to monitor and take action against digital news platforms, including online portals and YouTube channels. The writ, filed on December 12, 2024, questioned the council’s oversight via social media. The court’s full verdict is yet to be released, so the legal reasoning behind the decision remains unknown.
Fixed Broadband Users in Nepal Surpass 3.1 Million
Nepal’s fixed broadband internet users have exceeded 3.1 million, reaching 3,130,655 by the end of March 2025, according to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority. Over nine months, from the start of the fiscal year 2024/25, 227,385 new users were added. Worldlink Communications leads with over 1 million customers, adding 69,832 users in this period, followed by Websurfer with 48,107 new users. Other providers like Vianet, Wifi Nepal, and Dish Media also saw growth, with Wifi Nepal doubling its customer base. In contrast, Nepal Telecom, the country’s second-largest provider, experienced minimal growth, adding only 1,934 customers.
Visually Impaired Community Demands Equal Access to Government Information
Blind activist Khomraj Sharma and representatives from Nepal’s visually impaired community met with Minister Prithivi Subba Gurung, urging the government to ensure equal access to public information. They highlighted how scanned government documents are inaccessible to screen readers and demanded the adoption of national guidelines to make digital content accessible, including using text-to-speech formats and Unicode. Leaders from various organizations called for alternative formats, ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty, and disability-inclusive digital literacy programs. Minister Gurung acknowledged the issue and pledged to uphold accessibility standards for public information.
