The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has revealed that a number of journalists and media organisations took money from the erstwhile royal government to write in its favor.

According to the Ministry, some 84 journalists and media organisations had received taxpayers’ money from the royal government fund in the name of “dissemination of peace-related information” from their respective media.

Tirtha Koirala, news chief of Kantipur Television, received eight thousand rupees from the government’s fund.

Likewise, Sarad Chandra Wasti and Arjun Khadka of Kantipur Television received eight and four thousand rupees respectively from the state fund.

Former Chairman of Press Chautari Nepal and Editor of Dristhi Weekly Sambhu Shrestha got 50,000 rupees from the royal government.

Jasodha Pradhan (National Federation of Nepalese Journalists) received Rs. 126,000 and Rs 495,000 from the royal government.

Some other recipients of the state fund are Nirodh Raj Pandey (National Federation of Nepalese Journalists) Rs 1,000,000, Hari Sharan Lamichhane (Nepal Cable TV Association) Rs 200,000, Yagya Dhakal (National Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Kathmandu) Rs 20,000 and Dilli Basel of Channel Nepal Television Rs. 4,000.

Santosh Neupane and Suresh Sharma of Image Television received Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 4,000 respectively.

Meanwhile Babita Basnet of Ghatana Ra Bichar Weekly refuted reports that she received money from the royal government.