KATHMANDU, August 26: When Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament has geared up investigation into irregularities of Sajha Prakashan, yet another complaint about the irregularities has been filed at the parliamentary committee on Friday.

Hari Bhakta Ghimire, on behalf of Sajha Prakashan Employees’ Union and Prabha Regmi, on behalf of Sajha Prakashan Employees’ Organization, submitted a complaint along with ‘evidences’ at the PAC on Friday, PAC member Ramhari Khatiwada said.

The complainants have submitted two different letters issued on May 28, 2015 to Sudipa Trading of Balkhu, Kathmandu and Ganesh International, Kathmandu, asking each to print 100,000 copies of Sabaiko Nepali, 40,000 copies of Ek Chihan and 50,000 copies of Link English. These are course books of Grade XI and XII. The letters signed by Sajha Chairman and General Manager Dolindra Prasad Sharma have offered 35 percent of the proceeds and asked each of them to deposit Rs 6 million as earnest money.

“We have received additional evidences of irregularities in Sajha today,” said lawmaker Khatiwada. “We will look into the documents and come to a conclusion,” he added. “We have also asked the Ministry of Education to provide its probe report very soon.”

The ministry prepared a probe report on the irregularities of Sajha Prakashan recently and submitted it to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Gopal Man Shrestha. The report, confirming irregularities in Sajha, has recommended sack for the entire Sajha board, which is headed by Dolindra Prasad Sharma. GM Sharma is reported to have approached power centers seeking protection.

GM Sharma has been accused of appointing those close to political leaders and media persons, not carrying out audit for 31 months after he was appointed in Sajha, not maintaining records of annual incomes and book publications, using Sajha logo for printing books at private publishers, and transferring Rs 5 million from Sajha to GM’s account among other things.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has already started investigation into Sajha irregularities following publication of reports in Republica and Nagarik dailies.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Sajha Prakashan board was held on Friday at Anamnagar of Kathmandu where Sharma’s house is located. One of the board members, Bijaya Subba boycotted the meeting, stating that it was inappropriate to hold the board meeting outside the office. He has reportedly stated that Sharma should have resigned his post given the controversy.

 
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