Former Gandaki Province lawmaker Meena Gurung and her 80-year-old father, Krishna Bahadur Gurung, are in police custody in Kaski for their alleged involvement in financial mismanagement linked to Suryadarshan Cooperative. Krishna, a retired British Army soldier, and Meena, once active in social service, are accused of participating in the misappropriation of cooperative funds.
How They Got Involved
The cooperative traces its origins to 2008 when Gyan Bahadur Bamjan, part of a family known for expanding cooperative networks, arrived in Pokhara. He and his team focused on engaging former Gurkha soldiers to establish cooperatives.
Through Arati Gurung, a beauty entrepreneur and Meena’s colleague, Bamjan introduced the idea of a cooperative to Meena. Meena, who frequently traveled between the UK and Hong Kong, agreed to the proposal and became chairperson of the cooperative’s ad hoc committee. Krishna Bahadur was named vice-chairperson, and Arati took the treasurer’s position.
Allegations and Financial Mismanagement
Investigations reveal that during their tenure, the cooperative issued loans worth NPR 154.49 million without following proper procedures, leaving significant amounts unrecovered. According to the prosecution, several members of the cooperative, including Gyan Bahadur Bamjan and Meena, share collective responsibility for the financial mismanagement.
The cooperative’s downfall reportedly began when Rajesh Gurung, Arati’s husband, who had initially mobilized funds from British Gurkha veterans, diverted savings and fled with the money. Krishna stated that he initially invested NPR 25,000 but distanced himself from the cooperative after hearing about irregularities in 2010.
Court Proceedings
The Kaski District Court has started hearings for Krishna, Meena, and other accused individuals. Krishna, due to his age and health issues, is undergoing treatment at a hospital and has not been present in court. Additional charges have been filed against 63 individuals, with claims of misappropriation amounting to NPR 1.51 billion.
