Kathmandu, Dec 10: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case at the Special Court against Surya Prasad Silwal, Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, for allegedly falsifying his date of birth multiple times, allowing him to remain in government service beyond the mandated retirement age.
According to the CIAA, Silwal was supposed to retire from his position as Chairman of the Insurance Authority on Shrawan 16, 2080 BS upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. However, he continued serving past this age. Investigations revealed discrepancies in the dates of birth recorded on his official documents:
1. Parsa District Administration Office**: His citizenship certificate issued there mentions his date of birth as Falgun 24, 2032 BS, making him 16 years old at the time of issuance.
2. Kathmandu District Administration Office: A duplicate citizenship certificate issued on Baisakh 17, 2066 BS lists his birthdate as Kartik 22, 2016 BS.
3. Tribhuvan University: Educational certificates reportedly list varying dates of birth.
During his entry into government service, Silwal submitted a transcript listing his birthdate as Shrawan 15, 2015 BS. Based on this date, he was appointed as a Section Officer on Shrawan 1, 2043 BS and later retired as a government secretary on Shrawan 15, 2073 BS at the age of 58, as per the retirement rules for secretaries.
The investigation further revealed discrepancies in his passport applications, where he reduced his age by approximately three years, using Kartik 24, 2018 BS as his birthdate to obtain diplomatic and special passports.
Charges and Penalties
The CIAA alleges that Silwal knowingly continued holding the position of Chairman even after his mandatory retirement date. This action is considered a violation under Section 15 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 BS.
The charges include:
– Imprisonment and fines** for the offense.
– Confiscation of benefits amounting to Rs 3.62 million, which Silwal received after his retirement date.
CIAA spokesperson Narahari Ghimire confirmed the demands for prosecution and recovery of the misappropriated benefits.
