Nepal minister gets jail for corruption

Nepal's Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced a sitting minister of the Baburam Bhattarai government to jail and fine on charges of corruption.

Updated on: Feb 22, 2012, 24:26:55 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal's Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced a sitting minister of the Baburam Bhattarai government to jail and fine on charges of corruption.

Jaya Prakash Gupta, minister for information and communication, was slapped a one and half year jail term and fine of NRs 84 lakh (Rs 52.5 lakh) for amassing illegal wealth by misusing his position. This is the first instance of conviction of a sitting minister in Nepal on corruption charges. Gupta will lose his cabinet berthwith immediate effect. As soon as the SC announced its verdict on the five year old case, Gupta surrendered before the court.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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