August 5: Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini has been transferred from the Ministry of Finance after the reappointment of Janardan Sharma as the finance minister.

A cabinet meeting on Thursday transferred Marasini to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, informed a minister aware of the latest development.

The cabinet meeting also assigned the responsibilities of finance secretary to Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar.

Marasini has accused Finance Minister Janardan Sharma of brining unauthorized persons in the ministry on the eve of budget announcement for the current fiscal year in order to change the tax rates. Marasini had taken indefinite leave as the controversy reached its climax a few weeks ago. Sharma resigned from his post on July 6 after the federal parliament formed a special probe committee to under pressure from opposition parties as well as various sectors to investigate the allegation against Sharma.

Marasini returned to office the very next day Sharma stepped down. However, after a few weeks of investigation, the special probe committee found Sharma not guilty due to lack of evidences to establish his involvement in bringing unauthorized persons to the ministry to influence the tax rates.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari then reappointed Sharma on July 31 upon the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. As he was in odds with the finance secretary, Sharma’s reappointment inevitably meant transfer of Marasini.