Kathmandu : Dhaka Kumar Shrestha, a member of parliament (MP) from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been suspended after an audio of him demanding money from medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai was leaked.
Dhaka Kumar Shrestha, a Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker in the House of Representatives, has been drawn into controversy after an audiotape in which he reportedly asked Rs 20 million from controversial businessperson Durga Prasai claiming he would be soon appointed the health minister leaked.

The conversation, leaked by a news channel named Kapurbot.com, is claimed to have taken place before the cabinet expansion on January 17, 2023, when the party was in negotiation with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for better positions in the cabinet.

In the audiotape, Shrestha claimed he would soon be appointed the health minister, assuring Prasai that he would help him after that. Prasai owns the B&C Medical College in Birtamod in Jhapa. This institution has not got an affiliation from any university for failing to meet standards.

In the audio, the MP claimed the party wanted him to pay Rs 25 million to the party to secure the position. Meanwhile, following the leak, the RSP says it has suspended lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha and launched an investigation.

The party’s deputy general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti says the party was forming a committee for investigation. “An inquiry committee has been formed to invest the issue related to the audio release”, Burlakoti told, “He has been suspended.”

He is a proportional MP. He has been suspended from the party. But he informed that the process will start once the inquiry committee submits a report to the party.

At that time, Prachanda was appointed as the Prime Minister on behalf of seven parties, including CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Center), while Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of RSP, became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs.

Dol Prasad Aryal, RSP Vice Chairman, Labor, Employment and Social Security and Shisir Khanal became Minister for Education. Similarly, Dr. Toshima Karki became the Minister of State for Health.

Shrestha is also heard to be telling Prasai that the money was needed for the party itself.