A recording said to capture a phone call between a sitting anti-corruption commissioner and a former head of Nepal’s aviation regulator has raised hard questions about the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Commissioner Dr. Sumitra Amatya has reportedly confirmed that the call is authentic. The claims built around the recording, including allegations of money changing hands and of investigation details are under examination currently.
What has been confirmed
Amatya herself put it out that the telephone conversation between her and former Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Director General Pradip Adhikari was real.
What the reports allege
The call was recorded on November 7, 2023 (Kartik 21, 2080 BS). The conversation touched on the Pokhara, Bhairahawa and Biratnagar airports and includes remarks that appear to refer to money paid earlier and to matters linked to investigations.
There are allegation that more than Rs 20 million may have been paid to Amatya over time. It also says the word “book” was allegedly used as code for sums of money. These are allegations and not findings that any payment was made or that a bribe took place.
Who has responded
Amatya’s confirmation is the only response so far.
There is no direct response from Adhikari to the recording or the allegations. His reaction would need to come from him or his lawyer. No official statement from the CIAA on this audio has been located either.
Why the Pokhara airport case matters
The recording is linked in reporting to investigations into airport construction, including Pokhara International Airport. The CIAA filed a corruption case at the Special Court on April 24, 2026, against Adhikari and 13 other individuals and companies, with a claimed amount of Rs 3.62 billion.
Why this touches public trust
The CIAA investigates abuse of authority and corruption. A credible allegation that one of its commissioners exchanged money with a person facing corruption allegations, or shared confidential details of an investigation, would call for a transparent answer. Any question of conflict of interest should be judged on evidence and the law, not on personal familiarity or a single phone call.
