Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Member of Parliament (MP) Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary is embroiled in allegations of financial irregularities at a school in Rautahat where he chairs the management committee. Local residents have filed a complaint with the Rautahat District Administration Office, the local government body responsible for district-level administration, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged misuse of funds at Bhuneshwarnath Community Primary School.
The complaint, filed by Ganga Ram Sah, Maya Nand Sah, Banhu Sah, Bishwanath Sah, and Paramanand Sah, alleges that checks were issued from the school’s bank account to individuals with no connection to the school. They claim that the school’s current account at Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Gangapipra branch, operated under the joint signatures of the then-headteacher Bina Devi Jaiswal and committee chairman Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary, was used to make payments to unrelated individuals on various dates.
The complainants submitted bank statements as evidence, highlighting payments made to individuals not directly involved in the school’s regular educational or administrative activities. The complaint further states that funds were withdrawn from the school’s bank account until Jestha 20, 2083 (June 3, 2026), even after headteacher Jaiswal had been transferred to another school.
Beyond the alleged check fraud, locals also accuse the school of irregularities in the midday meal program. They claim that while only 20 to 25 students genuinely attend daily, attendance records were inflated to show up to 200 students, suggesting a misappropriation of funds allocated for student meals. The complainants have also implicated the Durgabhagawati Rural Municipality and the former headteacher in these alleged irregularities, calling for a comprehensive investigation.
Questions over MP’s dual role
A significant point of contention raised by the complainants is MP Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary’s continued chairmanship of the school management committee despite his election as a Member of Parliament from Rautahat-1. Chaudhary, who defeated candidates from parties including CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, and CPN (Unified Socialist), led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, has been questioned for remaining in the committee chairman position even after becoming an MP. Locals argue that the withdrawal of funds from the school’s bank account under his continued chairmanship as an elected MP is a serious matter.
Furthermore, the government’s Education Regulations (Tenth Amendment) 2083 (July 6/8, 2026) prohibit individuals who have been members of a political party for at least five years before a committee’s formation from serving on school management committees. This provision could challenge the legality of MP Chaudhary’s continued tenure as chairman.
Responses from accused officials
Former headteacher Bina Devi Jaiswal acknowledged that checks might have been issued in individuals’ names for regular school expenses. She explained that materials like rice, vegetables, milk, sugar, and gas are needed for the midday meal program, and funds are received annually. However, she claimed that daily purchases sometimes lacked firm bills, leading to payments being made to individuals. Regarding withdrawals in Jestha, she stated that Rs 140,000 was paid for five years of audit fees.
MP Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary, however, denied the allegations of financial irregularities. He stated that he continues to serve as chairman due to the wishes and requests of local residents. Chaudhary asserted that there are no significant funds in the school that could be misused, dismissing the accusations as baseless claims from political opponents. He explained that midday meal funds are received annually and disbursed once a year after daily meal provisions.
Investigation expected
Rautahat’s Chief District Officer (CDO) Laxmi Prasad Paudel publicly committed on Bhadra 25, 2083 (BS), that his office would not compromise on good governance, transparent service delivery, and corruption control in the district. This commitment signals that the District Administration Office is expected to prioritize a detailed investigation into the school’s bank transactions and take action against those found guilty, as demanded by the complainants.
The total amount of alleged financial irregularities, the current progress of the investigation by the Rautahat District Administration Office, and whether MP Chaudhary has resigned or plans to resign from the school management committee chairmanship following his election and the new education regulations remain unclear.
