KATHMANDU, Oct 10: National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama claimed that his office is investigating documents of Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), led by Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, and informed that it is preparing to file several cases against the NOC at the concerned authorities.
"We are going through the financial documents of the NOC. We have found that they are running a project of Rs 70 million for constructing NOC building but without a tender," Lama said during a press conference at his office on Wednesday.
"We´ll file cases at the concerned authorities about money laundering and also about the corruption within the NOC," he added.
Lama also alleged the Pradhan-led NOC of seeking interference from the government. "They are looking for the government´s interference but we are in no mood to take any action other than legal and of policy level," said Lama.
He claimed that the measure taken by the NSC was the first step toward ending the NOC controversy. "Enough is enough, we can´t stand this controversy anymore," Lama said about the existence of another parallel NOC led by Rukma Shumsher Rana, which was reinstated by a Supreme Court verdict.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) had issued an interim order against the National Olympic Committee Nepal (NOCN) led by Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan.
Acting on a petition filed by Lama on Monday, a single bench of Justice Bharat Raj Uprety ordered not to carry out any activities in the name of the NOCN until the apex court passes the final verdict on the issue.
Earlier, Pradhan had filed an application at the District Administration Office, Doti, for the registration of the NOCN defying the SC´s order. NOCN was registered on August 7, 2011 despite the apex court´s verdict on October 4, 2010, which had ordered not to recognize the NOC led by Pradhan.
Pradhan-led NOC dismisses allegations
Meanwhile, Pradhan-led NOC issued a press release on Wednesday and dismissed the allegations put forward by three different associations associated with Nepali sports on Tuesday.
The NOC has expressed its serious concern over the three associations´ warning of stern protest, including physical actions, if their demands are not met promptly.
"We want legal action against the NSC staffers, who are publicly giving physical threats," reads the statement issued by the NOC.
The three associations - Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA), National Sports Council Employees Association (NSCEA) and National Olympian Association (NOA) - had demanded to hold new election of the NOC and form a single NOC in the country. They blamed Pradhan-led committee of massive corruption and financial irregularities.
However, Pradhan-led NOC has categorically dismissed the allegations. "The $80,000, which they claimed was for the coaches, was actually for running technical courses and 10 different associations have already received $8000 each," reads the press release.
"Likewise, $18,100 was received by coach Hari Bahadur Rokaya for the preparation of Youth Olympics held in Singapore and Rabi Rajkarnikar was the coordinator of the program," it reads further.
The Pradhan-led NOC has criticized its member Rajkarnikar alleging him of defaming the NOC and Olympic movement. "After receiving three-year long Olympic Movement scholarship, Rajkarnikar is misusing his knowledge to defame Nepali Olympic movements," reads the press release.
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