Gyanendra Shahi Questions CIAA over Major Corruption Cases

Kathmandu. A meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee is currently underway to discuss the operations and actions of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) with its officials.

During the discussion, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Member of Parliament Gyanendra Shahi raised questions regarding the role of the CIAA in various high-profile corruption and irregularity cases.

Shahi questioned why the CIAA has not yet moved forward with filing cases on issues such as alleged irregularities in the Maoist cantonments, the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate case, and the land and share transactions related to Taragaon Regency Hyatt Hotel.

"Why didn't the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority file a case on the Maoist combatant camp irregularities? Why hasn't it filed a case on the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate issue till now? Why didn't it file a case on the Taragaon Regency Hotel land and share transaction, all of which fall under the CIAA's jurisdiction?" he questioned.

He claimed that although these cases fall within the scope of the CIAA's investigation, legal proceedings have not been initiated. Bringing up the topic of procurement of health supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged irregularities linked to the Omni Group, Shahi asked why effective legal action has not been taken in that matter either.

"During COVID-19, the government went bankrupt due to the Omni scam involving billions of rupees; why was no case filed regarding that?" he said. "Eighty percent of Ncell shares were bought and sold between TeliaSonera and Axiata. Capital gains tax was evaded in that transaction, and the Supreme Court even issued a verdict on it, yet the CIAA hasn't touched it or filed a case so far. Please answer this."

He also raised the issue of Ncell's share transaction and the related capital gains tax dispute. He claimed that the Supreme Court had already delivered a ruling on tax evasion involving Ncell's share sale between TeliaSonera and Axiata, questioning why the CIAA has not brought that case under its investigation scope as well.