Kathmandu : Suspended Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal has been released on bail of Rs 50,000.

Aryal, who was previously suspended following corruption charges, appeared before the Special Court on Sunday to give his statement.

This court appearance comes 35 days after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a charge sheet against him.

Aryal is accused of involvement in financial irregularities during his tenure as Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, specifically concerning the printing of excise duty stickers.

The case involves allegations of embezzlement totaling Rs 386,671,640.

The CIAA’s investigation revealed that the duty stickers were printed at inflated costs, implicating Aryal in the facilitation of overpriced printing contracts.