Kathmandu, July 15 — Nepal’s Federal Affairs and General Administration Minister Rajkumar Gupta has resigned following the release of a leaked audio recording allegedly implicating him in a bribery scandal involving political appointments and civil servant transfers.
The controversy erupted after an audio clip surfaced, allegedly capturing Gupta negotiating a bribe of Rs 7.8 million to facilitate a political posting and the transfer of a government official in Kaski district. Facing mounting public and political pressure, Gupta submitted his resignation on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, Gupta denied wrongdoing and claimed he was a victim of technological manipulation. “Sometimes, even poison one has never consumed can harm the person,” he wrote, maintaining his innocence and calling for a fair investigation.
According to reports in The Kathmandu Post, Gupta arrived at Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s residence in Baluwatar to submit his resignation but was unable to meet the PM directly as he was attending a university senate meeting. Instead, the resignation letter was handed over at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.
Sources within the Secretariat indicated that Gupta’s resignation may have been influenced by a 24-hour ultimatum reportedly issued by PM Oli on Monday amid escalating political backlash.
Despite the controversy, the issue was notably absent from the Cabinet meeting that Gupta attended earlier in the day. However, the leaked audio has intensified tensions within the ruling coalition, sparking internal debate and calls for accountability.
Gupta stated he will continue to serve the party and the public with “renewed dedication,” even as the scandal fuels speculation of a larger Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Oli in the coming days.
The incident marks another flashpoint in Nepal’s ongoing struggle with political integrity and governance transparency.
