Santosh Pariyar apologizes in parliament over audio tape of bribe demand by RSP lawmaker

On Sunday, an audio recording was leaked in which Dr Dhaka Kumar Shrestha, a Member of Parliament representing RSP, was heard seeking 20 million from medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai.

NL Today

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Kathmandu: Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of Rastriya Swatantra Party, apologized to lawmakers in parliament on Monday for an audio tape revealing party lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha’s demand of Rs 20 million as a bribe.

On Sunday, an audio tape, in which lawmaker Shrestha is heard demanding Rs 20 million from medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai, got leaked. In the tape, he has been heard that he needs to provide Rs 20 million to the party to become the Minister for Health and Population. 

Prasai is the owner of the Birtamode-based B & C Medical College and Teaching Hospital.

“I, on behalf of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, would like to apologize for the harm caused to your [lawmakers] dignity due to the incident involving our representative [Shrestha],” said Pariyar in a House meeting today.

After the audio tape came into the light, the Rastriya Swatantra Party suspended Shrestha as lawmaker and party’s member, and formed a committee to investigate the case within 72 hours.

This is the first instance of a lawmaker apologizing in parliament after the corruption case involving a party lawmaker came to light.