Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) has decided to conduct further studies into Nepal’s ambassadorial nominee for Malaysia, Chudamani Kharel.
The PHC made the decision after members raised several questions about Kharel during its meeting on Wednesday.
Members raised several questions against Kharel, including allegations of financial dealings, and called for further investigation. They said the hearing process could proceed only after further scrutiny of Khanal.
Kabindra Burlakoti, chief whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) parliamentary party, said the PHC should study the issues surrounding Kharel further and could summon him for another hearing if necessary.
Similarly, Barshaman Pun of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) said further discussion on Kharel’s recommendation was necessary as several issues had been raised against him.
Padma Aryal, deputy leader of the CPN-UML parliamentary party, said further investigation was necessary even though no formal complaint had been filed with the committee. “This is because several facts raising questions about Kharel have already emerged in the public sphere,” he added.
Kharel, however, denied all allegations against him. He challenged anyone to substantiate the allegations with evidence of improper transactions and also claimed that he had never taken money from anyone by promising to arrange grants.
After lawmakers called for further scrutiny, committee chair Bodh Narayan Shrestha said the committee would conduct additional studies before proceeding with the necessary hearing process.
