Today’s news centers on ongoing legal proceedings and accountability actions alongside emerging public impacts on services, fuel access, and household costs.
Politics & Governance
Corruption hearings have started in the Special Court involving the upgrade of Nepal Telecommunications Company’s billing system, with trial underway against Sunil Paudel and 17 others in a case that cites a claimed loss of NPR 330 million. Sunil Paudel is among the accused over work tied to a convergent real-time billing system contract with Asia Info Linkage Technologies.
In governance developments affecting services, the Madhesh government has halted payments that led to closure of the Infrastructure Development Office, with office operations reportedly locked over financial reasons. The decision has immediate implications for ongoing infrastructure projects being implemented through that office.
Courts & Accountability
The Supreme Court has begun consideration of a habeas corpus petition filed by former Finance Minister Vishnu Prasad Paudel, after his June 8 arrest in a money laundering case that his wife says involves unlawful detention. Alongside the habeas application, the court has ordered retrieval of files connected to other defendants’ property and banking-related cases. The court hearing is being held on the habeas corpus writ.
In criminal accountability, former UML lawmaker Koiri was sentenced to five years over an allegation that he killed an injured person after removing them from an ambulance. Separate reporting also notes a court’s five-year imprisonment decision connected to the Thaman Bik murder case.
Courts also issued a consumer-protection style interim decision affecting education costs, banning schools from increasing fees amid parental concerns. Interim order against school fee hike was issued following objections to rising educational expenses and related household pressure. The ruling is intended to temporarily restrain school fee increases while the matter proceeds.
Economy & Business
Households are facing disruptions after recent fuel price cuts, with reporting describing an artificial fuel shortage that has made access harder for consumers. The situation is being linked to increased delays in obtaining fuel for daily activities and transportation.
On the livelihoods front, a teacher-turned farmer in Chitwan is reported to be earning a steady income through chili farming, underscoring opportunities for cash-crop agriculture at the local level. The report highlights chili farming income as a concrete example of income generation in the region.
Separately, business and consumer environment concerns may deepen as public access to essential inputs is constrained, while education affordability remains under court supervision. Together, the fuel shortage and school fee interim ban point to immediate pressures on household budgets and routine spending.
Date: July 02, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Asar 18, 2083
Top News
1. टेलिकम बिलिङ सिस्टम भ्रष्टाचार मुद्दाः सुनिल पौडेलसहित १८ जनाविरुद्ध सुनुवाइ सुरु (www.ratopati.com)
The corruption case against former managing director of Nepal Telecommunications Company, Sunil Paudel, and 17 others has commenced in a special court. They are accused of colluding in the upgrade of the billing system, resulting in a claimed loss of 330 million Nepali Rupees. The case involves a contract with the Chinese company Asia Info Linkage Technologies for a convergent real-time billing system intended to unify various telecommunications services.
2. एम्बुलेन्सबाट निकालेर घाइते मारेको अभियोगमा एमाले पूर्वसांसद कोइरीलाई ५ वर्ष कैद (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Former UML MP Koiri has been sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly killing an injured person after removing them from an ambulance. The ruling highlights issues of accountability and justice in cases involving political figures.
3. पूर्वमन्त्री बस्नेतसहित १६ जना विरुद्धको भ्रष्टाचार मुद्दामा सुनुवाइ सुरु (www.ratopati.com)
The hearing in the corruption case against former Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet and 15 others related to the procurement of Teramaks technology has commenced at the Special Court. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has demanded compensation of NPR 351 billion, accusing Basnet of making decisions without proper studies and pressuring the board for repeated proposals. The allegations include attempts to implement Teramaks without legal groundwork, despite prior studies indicating that monitoring of communication and data consumption could only occur after legal establishment.
4. मधेश सरकार : अर्थले भुक्तानी रोक्यो, पूर्वाधार विकास कार्यालयमा ताला लाग्यो (www.onlinekhabar.com)
The Madhesh government has halted payments due to financial issues, leading to the closure of the Infrastructure Development Office. This situation has resulted in a lockout at the office, affecting ongoing projects.
5. Teacher turned farmer makes decent income from chili farming in Chitwan (risingnepaldaily.com)
A former teacher in Chitwan has successfully transitioned to farming, generating a substantial income from chili cultivation. This shift highlights the potential for profitable agricultural ventures in the region.
6. Artificial fuel shortage hits consumers after price cuts (risingnepaldaily.com)
Consumers are facing an artificial fuel shortage following recent price cuts. The situation has led to increased difficulties in accessing fuel, impacting daily activities and transportation.
7. विष्णु पौडेलको बन्दीप्रत्यक्षीकरण रिटमा सुनुवाइ हुँदै (www.ratopati.com)
The Supreme Court of Nepal has scheduled a hearing for the habeas corpus petition filed by former Finance Minister Vishnu Prasad Paudel, who was arrested on June 8 in connection with a money laundering case. His wife, Domaaya Paudel, claims he has been unlawfully detained. The court has also ordered the retrieval of files related to various cases involving other defendants, including property and banking offenses.
8. एमालेका पूर्वसांसद कोइरीलाई पाँच वर्ष कैद (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Former CPN-UML lawmaker Koiri has been sentenced to five years in prison. The ruling was made by the court in connection with a criminal case against him.
9. Court issues interim order against school fee hike (risingnepaldaily.com)
The court has issued an interim order prohibiting schools from increasing their fees. This decision comes amid concerns from parents regarding the financial burden of rising educational costs.
10. German Embassy clarifies reports on passport procurement process (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The German Embassy in Nepal clarified that the Charge d'Affaires was invited, not summoned, to a meeting at the German Federal Foreign Office regarding the passport procurement case. The Embassy emphasized that no official documents were exchanged and reaffirmed its respect for judicial independence, stating it does not comment on ongoing court proceedings.
Forex
| Currency Pair | Rate (NPR) |
|---|---|
| USD → NPR | 152.7 |
| CAD → NPR | 107.35 |
| AUD → NPR | 105.2 |
| GBP → NPR | 202.27 |
| JPY → NPR | 9.38 |
Metal Prices (International)
| Metal | Price (USD/oz) | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $4055.67 | NPR 232,237.55 |
| Silver | $59.85 | NPR 3,427.16 |
Metal Prices (Nepal)
| Metal | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|
| Fine Gold (9999) | NPR 283,500.00 |
| Silver | NPR 4,450.00 |
Disclaimer
- Forex rates are sourced from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
- International gold and silver prices are sourced from swissquote.
- Nepal gold and silver prices are sourced from Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association.
Prices are provided for informational purposes only and may be delayed, or inaccurate.
