Last month ministers were engaged in catfights over who took a Rs 200,000 bribe. Pokhara-based industrialist Hari Prasad Pandey, minister for commerce and water resources in the UML's 1995/96 minority government, walked to the Chief District Officer's office on 23 April to file a graft case against himself. CDO Tika Ram Aryal refused to register the complaint saying his office didn't have the mandate to deal with that type of complaint. But Pandey is not backing off-he has mailed his complaint.

By law, the CDO cannot reject a complaint sent through registered mail. He either has to act on it or forward it to the concerned investigating authority. In a 42-page confession, Pandey says he amassed wealth through illegal practices and misuse of authority when he was a minister of state. His long list of "economic crimes" he claims to have inflicted against the "motherland" include bribing officials, laundering money and evading taxes. He has also declared his net worth-Rs 47.7 million-and wants the government to take Rs 10 million to allow him to repent. He has requested that Rs 20.14 million be left for the education of his five daughters, all of whom are studying to become doctors.