Investigation underway on big corruption cases: Commissioner Silwal

Kathmandu: Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) commissioner Kishor Kumar Silwal said the anti-graft body was undertaking a probe on big corruption cases.

At a district-level interaction programme entitled ‘Corruption Control and Good Governance’ organized by the Hetauda-based office of the CIAA on Friday, Commissioner Silwal said the investigation was being carried out on several corruption-related cases such as Lalita Niwas.

Responding to the public complaints noting that the anti-graft body was focusing on tiny cases and refraining from the big ones, he said the investigation was being done on the cases concerning the misuse of public properties.

He also shared that the scam related to the procurement of bi-cycle in Madhes province was also under investigation.

Challenges have emerged in addressing graft cases due to no timely amendment to the Corruption Control Act, 2059 BS, he said, adding that the anti-graft law had remained unchanged for 20 years.

The commissioner suggested the local level chief, deputy chief and chief administrative officer not go beyond their statutorily-defined jurisdictions.

CIAA Hetauda office chief Narahari Ghimire presented a working paper on the causes of corruption, its effects, costing, constitutional arrangement of the commission and duties and responsibilities of the commissioners.

Likewise, Chairperson of Chitwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chun Narayan Shrestha said the private sector was affected in absence of a concrete hearing mechanism on the loss it was incurred due to the adoption of the wrong policy.

On the occasion, local level chiefs and deputy chiefs in the district shared the challenges they faced in carrying out their responsibilities.