The Nepal Special Court acquitted member of parliament and former government minister Khum Bahadur Khadka and four others of charges of irregularities in the Bakraha River Control Project. Others receiving clean chits from the court today include then water resources secretary Bishwa Nath Sapkota, officials Amodananda Mishra and Narayan Bahadur Thapa and Chinese contractor Cao Shuang Qun. Delivering its verdict, the court said, "There is not sufficient evidence to prove irregularities by the defendants - Khadka and other, in the project." A bench comprising court Chairman Bhoop Dhoj Adhikari, Komal Nath Sharma and Cholendra SJB Rana passed the verdict. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed the case against Khadka and others on Dec 24, 2002, accusing them of irregularities in the project amounting to Rs 40.5 million.