A Special Court verdict acquitted Nepal Airlines chairman Sugat Ratna Kansakar and five of his senior colleagues, who were put behind the bar by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on a corruption charge involving a deal  to purchase two wide-bodied Airbuses. But it does not meet the cost of their humiliation and pain.
Following the CIAA decision, Kansakar and one of his colleagues were admitted to local hospital for treatment. In a similar incident before, then Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Vijayanath Bhattarai and Surendra Man Pradhan were suspended and sent to prison in a CIAA case. The Special Court later acquitted them, but, in the meantime, Pradhan’s mother had died.


Executive chairman Kansakar, acting deputy general managers Raju Bahadur K.C and Ganesh Thakur, acting director Gyanendra Purush Dhakal, Deputy Director Mayur Sumsher Rana and acting deputy director Keshav Raj Sharma received the clean chit from the court.


Nepal Airlines employees gave a reception as they joined office.


“I really appreciate employees of NAC who supported us during the difficult time,” said Kansakar.


In this case, even the credibility of Nepal Airlines, which is facing a crisis because of lack of aircraft to operate in the international sector, was damaged.


Known as a man of vision, Kansakar expressed his desire a long time back to build the tallest building in Kathmandu for Nepal Telecom and his plan modernized the company.


“The CIAA’s understanding of our work has appalled us. The special court has saved our dignity. My only aim was to enhance the production capacity of NAC which was delayed by all these hindrances. It really counts what the government has to say about this problem as it has projected Nepal’s image into the international business arena in a negative way,” said Kansakar.


After the verdict, Kansakar declared that their victory is a victory of justice but he and his colleagues have nowhere to go to claim compensation. The physical as well as mental tension they suffered remains unaddressed.  The case has also made den to the reputation of Nepal Airlines and its staff.


Most importantly, Nepal’s target to bring a million tourists is going to be impossible now as the country has spent four months in a dilemma. Nepal Airlines’ Boeing 757 has also gone out of operation, hampering its international flights.


Kansakar is a dedicated visionary who has taken up his job of executive chairman after getting the clean cheat from the court.