Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh has called for greater attention to the independence and impartiality of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
Speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Thursday, Singh questioned whether the CIAA is a branch of the Prime Minister’s Office or a constitutional body.
As per news reports, CIAA officials were allegedly summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office in June and were instructed to press corruption charges against officials of the Department of Passport.
Singh also said the CIAA has been unable to fulfill its responsibilities because of the conduct of its officials.
“CIAA officials can appear before parliamentary committees, but the CIAA is not an institution under the prime minister. Therefore, its officials should not rush to the prime minister or any minister simply because they are summoned,” Singh said. “The dignity of the CIAA is declining day by day. This must end.”
Singh also accused the judiciary and the CIAA of becoming institutions that produce middlemen.
“Let’s end the politics of sharing positions and prevent these institutions from becoming clubs for former bureaucrats,” he said. “All constitutional bodies have become clubs or commissions for former government employees.”
Singh also said money obtained through corruption is increasingly being invested in gold. He raised allegations of major corruption in land acquisition for the Nijgadh International Airport project.
“A project estimated to cost Rs 7 billion to Rs 8 billion has spent Rs 23 billion just on land acquisition,” he said. “Money has been paid based on records claiming the presence of sand in places where there is no sand. Why does the CIAA do nothing when political leaders and high-ranking officials are involved, while harassing only ordinary people?”
Singh said the CIAA should understand that everyone must be equal before the law.
