Author: space4knews

Chairman Rajendra Kumar Bhandari of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has accused the commission’s working style of increasing corruption in the country. In a written response, he stated that the commission investigates and files cases against only a few officials who have received complaints. He added that the formation of the commission allows for quick and efficient investigations into officials involved in illegal wealth accumulation. Kathmandu, 29 Jestha.

While submitting the written reply to a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court, Bhandari claimed that the CIAA has not been effective due to the tendency of major political and bureaucratic groups to seek complaints for corruption and property investigations. In the written reply submitted to the Supreme Court, Chairman Bhandari said, “It appears that the CIAA investigates and files cases against only a very small number of officials for whom complaints have been received. As a result, groups involved in corruption and illegal wealth accumulation and concealment have flourished in the country.”

Bhandari informed that the commission was formed under his leadership because the state has been unable to investigate those hiding illegal property and engaged in corruption. Although the commission has done limited work in detecting illegal assets, it has also adopted a new policy to ensure it does not infringe on anyone’s rights. In his response sent to the Supreme Court, he stated, “It is a violation of the constitution and existing laws of Nepal to accuse the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, 2083, which has the authority to submit reports with recommendations, of interfering with the powers of the CIAA.”

Bhandari emphasized that the formation of the commission has created an environment for more prompt and efficient investigations into officials and groups engaged in illegal wealth accumulation, which will make investigative agencies more effective in pursuing cases. Both Chairman Bhandari and Prime Minister Balen Shah have expressed similar views in their responses to the writ petition filed against the commission in the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Shah also criticized the working style of the CIAA and highlighted the necessity of the commission for corruption investigations. Bhandari claimed that the CIAA has not been able to collect, investigate, or examine the properties of long-term political and high-ranking officials across the country in a short time. Therefore, he noted that the commission is actively working to make the work of regular state bodies more effective.

The Supreme Court has sentenced Govindbahadur Batal, an accused involved in the murder of Koteshwar businessman Ramhari Shrestha, to 10 years in prison. The court overturned the earlier joint bench verdict of 3 years imprisonment and, through a review, imposed a 10-year sentence on Batal. Kathmandu, 28 Jestha.

The joint bench of Supreme Court justices Dr. Nahakul Subedi, Abdul Aziz Musalman, and Shanti Singh Thapa handed down the 10-year prison sentence to Batal. Previously, the Supreme Court’s joint bench had sentenced him to 3 years. Upon review, that decision was reversed, resulting in the longer sentence.

The incident dates back 18 years, during the 2006/07 people’s movement and the Maoist peace process. When the Maoist People’s Liberation Army’s various camps were concentrated, the Third Division, located in Shaktikhor, Chitwan, opened a liaison office in the house of Koteshwar businessman Ramhari Shrestha. On 14 Chaitra 2064 (circa late March 2008), 1.7 million rupees and a pistol were stolen from this liaison office.

During the investigation of the incident, Batal and his group abducted Keshav Adhikari, Gangaram Thapa, and Ramhari Shrestha and took them to Chitwan. According to Batal’s claim, on 31 Baishakh 2065 (mid-May 2008), Keshav Adhikari and Gangaram Thapa assaulted Ramhari Shrestha in the morning, leaving him critically injured. The body was disposed of in the Narayani River, and when attempts were made to take him to a hospital for treatment, Shrestha died along the way.

Batal alleged that the assault was committed by Keshav Adhikari and Gangaram Thapa and professed his innocence. The District Court of Chitwan had sentenced Batal to 3 years imprisonment on 17 Jestha 2068 (early June 2011) in a murder case.

The Supreme Court had earlier acquitted Batal, concluding he was not directly involved in the murder. However, the Office of the Attorney General filed a review petition against that ruling. Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, and Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma ordered a review of the verdict on 15 Ashoj 2077 (late September 2020).

Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s full bench reversed the previous joint bench and district court rulings, imposing a 10-year imprisonment sentence on Batal.

May 11, Kathmandu – The Ministry of Education and Sports has formally requested the Home Ministry to investigate an incident involving the issuance of visa recommendations for 10 foreign nationals based on a forged letter from Valmiki Vidyapith. According to ministry sources, this letter was sent following revelations about the case on Thursday.

Earlier, it was uncovered that the Ministry of Education had recommended visas to 10 foreigners to the Immigration Department using a counterfeit letter from the Valmiki Vidyapith campus located at Pradarshani Marg. Following this recommendation, the Immigration Department had issued visas to some individuals. However, when attempting to issue visas to additional applicants, it was discovered that the campus letter was fake.

In connection with this case, the Immigration Department has so far arrested two individuals and is conducting an investigation. According to the department’s Director General Ramchandra Tiwari, those detained include the person who forged the campus letter and submitted documents to the ministry to obtain visa recommendations, as well as a Chinese woman. Both detainees are identified as PhD doctor Subodh Shukla, who claims to be from Birgunj, and the Chinese woman, Chu Chiao. The Immigration Department took them into custody on Wednesday to proceed with the inquiry.

May 11, Kathmandu – Home Minister Sudhan Gurung inspected two holding centers established for displaced squatters at the new Balaju Bus Park. During the inspection conducted on Thursday evening, he also apologized to the squatter families. According to information provided by his secretariat, Minister Gurung acknowledged that although the squatters’ settlements were removed before he assumed office, the government is now taking the issue seriously and working towards a solution.

“The government will ensure your proper arrangements under all circumstances, and currently our focus remains on this,” he stated to the squatters. During the inspection, the squatter families expressed their grievances and difficulties. They highlighted issues such as lack of access to education for their children and problems in receiving healthcare services. Following this, Home Minister Gurung directed that a police team be stationed at the holding centers and that continuous updates on health and emergency services be maintained, a directive confirmed by his secretariat.

With no executive chairman appointed at the Nepal Securities Board for nearly two months, both the stock market and regular board operations have come to a standstill. Although the nomination committee recommended four candidates on May 18, the Council of Ministers has yet to appoint a chairman after 25 days. In the absence of a chairman, approvals for issuing new shares, bonus share listings, and merger processes of financial institutions have all been suspended.

On June 11, Kathmandu — The government’s failure to appoint an executive chairman for the Nepal Securities Board (SEBON) has led to widespread disruption in the capital market. Without the administrative chief, the board’s routine functions have been affected, sending negative signals throughout the capital market.

Following the people’s movement and the general elections that resulted in a clear majority for the Nepali Congress-led government, various officials, including those in regulatory bodies, were removed via ordinances. Just days before the ordinance was introduced, Santosh Narayan Shrestha resigned from his position as chairman of the Securities Board roughly two months ago. After Shrestha’s resignation, the government formed a recommendation committee to propose candidates for the chairmanship. Despite the committee recommending names 25 days ago, the board continues to lack leadership. Since those recommendations, the Council of Ministers has held five meetings but has not yet made an appointment.

On May 18, the recommendation committee put forward four names: Dr. Navaraj Adhikari, Vinay Dev Acharya, Mukund Kumar Kshetri, and Dr. Gopal Prasad Bhatt.

Committee member Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, who was part of the panel tasked with nominating candidates for chairman, stated, “The government has already received the recommended names, so the delay in the appointment process will be addressed by the government itself.” Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel has publicly acknowledged the delay in appointing the chairman. The absence of an executive chairman at the board has weakened investor confidence, which is directly reflected in the daily trading volume at the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE). New public share issuances and rights shares approvals have not been granted.

Moreover, since some companies have not registered their bonus shares with the board, the listing of those shares on NEPSE has also been halted. Board employees report that several licensing processes remain stalled. A merchant banker explained, “Bonus shares approved at the annual general meeting have been submitted to the government, and taxes paid. Investors’ holdings are regularly maintained and registered with the board, but since the registration certificate is not issued, the listing on NEPSE has been stopped.”

The same merchant banker added, “Even after all procedures are completed, the absence of this letter prevents listing, leaving investors unable to sell their shares on the secondary market.” Another merchant banker noted that efforts to expand collective investment schemes have been impeded. More than half a dozen merchant bankers have applied to the board to increase the size of collective investment schemes, but these applications have been stalled due to no chairman being appointed.

Although the central bank had instructed that the merger of Pokhara Finance and Samriddhi Finance be completed within 30 days, the Securities Board has blocked the merger. Merchant bankers explain that the merger cannot proceed without the chairman’s approval, leading to ongoing issues.

The Ministry of Finance’s nominee was supposed to act as the chairman temporarily; however, an employee at the board stated that this has not materialized. “By law, the assigned individual should carry out the duties, but the ministry’s representative has not yet arrived and no progress has been made. Earlier, they were busy with budget preparations, and even now, they have not come,” the official said. The absence of a chairman also meant the board could not even formally celebrate its anniversary. Most regular tasks have been suspended, including staff training. Only tasks manageable by the executive director are being performed.

Board staff explained, “According to the Securities Act, the full-time executive chairman is granted greater authority. Many activities are halted without a full-time chairman. Since the chairman is the primary administrative officer responsible for daily operations, it is natural that delays affect work when a capable individual is not appointed.”