Shrestha submits clarification on audio clip

Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha has submitted a written clarification to the party on the leaked audio clip.

Shrestha has submitted a four-page long written clarification through email on Monday. Earlier on Sunday, RSP had sought clarification from him within 24 hours after a audio clip was leaked in which he was heard asking for 20 million rupees from businessman Durga Prasai.

Shrestha has insisted that the leaked audio was edited and the voice is not his, but said he was ready to accept the decision of disciplinary committee.

Following the audio clip leak, RSP had also decided to suspend Shrestha’s membership and bar him from party’s activity, directing the central disciplinary committee to probe into the matter and submit the report within three days.

In the leaked audio clip, Shreshtha is asking Prasai for 20 million rupees, stating that he is going to become the health minister and for that he has to pay money to the party.

During the phone conversation, Shreshtha is heard saying, ‘I have to fix it today because they will say no to credit terms. ‘They may agree to one (crore)’, he further said.

But Prasai is heard replying, ‘I’ll give 20 million, it’s done but you have to work in my favor in the future.’

When Prasai inquired if the money was to be handed over to Rabi Lamichhane, Shreshtha said, ‘Rabi sir has not shown up yet.’

Shreshtha is the member of House of Representatives who was elected through the Proportional Representation electoral system from Gandaki Province.