Thapa along with Anfa General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan and Treasurer Birat Jung Shahi faced the charges of misappropriation of fund amounting to Rs 580 million. A CIAA board meeting on Wednesday dismissed Thapa’s case which was recommendation by Parliamentary Account Committee (PAC) to investigate with higher priority.  “The Commission has decided to put his [Thapa] case on hold for now,” said CIAA Spokesperson Begendra Raj Poudel without elaborating in details.

Thapa, who had been at the helm of the football governing body since 1995, was dragged into controversy following a series of revelation in British media The Sunday Times last year.

Thapa, adhering to the directive, on October 21 last year stepped down from the post for three months to pave way for the investigation. Soon after Fifa had asked Thapa to stay away from the job for four months to carry their own investigation into the charges brought into notice by the Anfa vice-president Karma Tshering Sherpa and Bijaya Narayan Manandhar.

The PAC has expressed serious concern over anti-graft body’s failure to deal the corruption cases involving high-profile people. Parliamentarians say the CIAA decision has raised a serious ethical question whether the anti-graft body is truly committed to eliminate corruption. “The CIAA has been protecting its cronies and dragging its adversaries to the court,” said Ramhari Khatiwada, one of the PAC member.

Khatiwada said PAC is planning to summon anti-graft chief and officials before the parliamentary committee to grill over their decision to acquit high profile individuals involved in corruption.  “It’s not only our conclusion that corruption is rampant in Anfa. The world football governing itself is investigating the matter,” said Khatiwada.

Thapa said the CIAA decision came as a huge relief to him. “I have been repeatedly saying that all the charges against me was brought to taint my image.”