A court of inquiry was held against some officers of the Royal Nepal Army charged with selling arms, rations and ammunition to the Lebanese militia while on UN duty in Lebanon. Cases were filed against Lieutenant-Colonel Rajendra Khadka and 56 other army personnel. Besides Khadka all 56 personnel have been found not guilty and released, and it is expected that Khadka too will get a very lenient sentence. It is expected that Khadka will be fined Rs3-3.5 million and then asked to resign, while the rest of them will see their promotion stopped for the next few years and let off lightly.

According to sources, the inquiry was held under the leadership of a brigadier in the staff college, Kiran Sumsher, and that his report is going to be presented on Sunday. Last Monday, Brigadier Kiran Sumsher left with 35 other army personnel for Dhaka to take part in a military programme. That very evening all 56 personnel besides Khadka were released and asked to report the next day at 10 am to the places where they had been detained. When they showed up, they were asked to report to their places of posting immediately.

According to military sources, Captain Hari Sharan Adhikary, the brother-in-law of defence secretary, Padam Kumar Acharya, too was involved in this case. Adhikary had to be saved at any cost and to save him the others involved were also let off with a very light sentence. After being released, Adhikary went to meet Acharya early in the morning. The secretary assured him that since he himself would be looking into the case now, Adhikary would not get a harsh sentence. One lieutenant colonel, nine majors, 18 other officers and 15 to 16 lower ranks were involved in this case.