The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has arrested Pradeep Adhikari, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), while he was on his way to give a statement in the Nalinchowk helipad construction irregularities case. The CIAA arrested the officer and former director Murari Bhandari from the office premises on Wednesday while they were going to give a statement.

The Authority has already filed a corruption case against them in the special court. 

The Authority is investigating after a complaint was received regarding irregularities in the construction of a helipad on 32 ropanis of land owned by the Authority in Nalinchowk, Bhaktapur. Questions have also been raised about the justification for the construction of the helipad in Nalinchowk. The complaint also mentioned that the Authority had constructed the helipad without conducting an environmental impact assessment.

The helipad was inaugurated on 7 Ashad 2081 by the then Tourism Minister Hit Bahadur Tamang and Director General of the Authority Pradeep Adhikari. The construction and contracting process of the helipad was carried out without conducting an EIA. Locals also opposed this project. Similarly, helicopter pilots had also said that the ‘Nalinchowk helipad is unsafe’.