Kathmandu, August 21
Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Chief Commissioner Prem Kumar Rai has told a parliamentary committee that he held discussions with Prime Minister Balen Shah before the passport contract case was filed.
Responding to questions from lawmakers at the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Rai said it was normal for the prime minister to call CIAA officials for discussions about an ongoing investigation.
“If there is a question about whether the prime minister called us or not, we can be called for discussion or to seek suggestions. We can also be called to ask what is happening in the matter and what you are doing. So, we went and held discussions,” Rai said.
Rai did not elaborate on the substance of the discussion but maintained that the CIAA had followed due process in filing the case.
He urged lawmakers to examine the prosecution documents to determine whether there were any shortcomings in the case, which has already been registered.
“Please look at the prosecution letter. You will clearly see that we did not file the case without grounds,” Rai said. “I do not want to go into this matter in detail.”
Lawmakers had questioned Rai about reports that CIAA officials were kept at the Prime Minister’s Office for around seven hours and allegedly pressured over the decision to prosecute in the passport procurement case.
The issue was raised during Thursday’s committee meeting, with lawmakers seeking clarification from the CIAA chief over the circumstances surrounding the meeting with the prime minister.
