The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday convicted Ananda Prasad Khanal, a former joint secretary at the ministry of physical planning and works, of graft and sentenced him to one year and three months in prison.

A division bench of Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Bharat Bahadur Karki ordered the sentence. The bench also slapped a fine of Rs 12.1 m and as much amount in confiscation on Khanal after the legitimate sources of Rs 12.1m, out of his total asset of Rs 2.36m, could not be established.

In June 3, 2005, the Special Court had handed a one-year-jail term and a combined fine and confiscation of Rs 20m in the same case following a case filed by the Commission of Investigation for Abuse of Authority. Expressing dissident, Khanal had appealed against the verdict at the apex court in October 27, 2005.