Minister Rajkumar Gupta Resigns Following Prime Minister’s Directive

Kathmandu, — Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta has resigned from his post after becoming embroiled in a controversial audio leak allegedly involving a bribe deal worth NPR 7.8 million (78 lakhs).

Gupta announced his resignation on Tuesday through a post on his official Facebook page, stating that he had become a victim of false allegations.

“In recent days, my name has repeatedly been linked with a bribe deal. Sometimes, even poison you haven’t consumed can affect you — I am currently facing such a situation,” Gupta wrote.
“To ensure a fair investigation and to uncover the truth, I have submitted my resignation to the Prime Minister,” he added.

He further expressed concern over misuse of technology and said he hoped no one else would fall prey to such manipulation in the future.
Gupta reaffirmed his commitment to public service and pledged to continue working with “honesty and integrity” under the party’s guidance.

His resignation comes a day after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli summoned him to Baluwatar for questioning regarding the audio clip, in which Gupta is allegedly heard discussing a bribe of NPR 2.5 million for the appointment of the Land Commission Chief in Kaski, and NPR 5.3 million to halt the transfer of the then Land Revenue Office Chief in the same district.

Following the leak, pressure mounted on the government, with senior leaders from both the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, including Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa, demanding Gupta’s immediate dismissal.

Gupta, a Member of Parliament and Central Committee member of the CPN-UML, had earlier denied the accusations and claimed he was ready to have the voice in the audio tested to prove his innocence.

With his resignation, the government now faces further scrutiny over its handling of corruption allegations, while opposition parties continue to push for broader transparency and accountability within the cabinet.