There is no pressure or influence in investigation: Deputy PM Shrestha

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has stated that there was no pressure or undue influence in the ongoing investigation into the Bhutanese refugee scam.

Meeting a delegation of the National Youth Association, the youth wing of CPN-UML, at his office on Thursday, Shrestha said, “There has been no financial manipulation, and absolutely no pressure or influence. The investigation was conducted without any external pressures, as I had the full support from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and leader of the main opposition UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.”

Shrestha also commended the police for their independent and impartial handling of the investigation.

“There is no intention to falsely implicate innocent individuals and cause harm to anyone. I have made it clear to the police that I am prepared to face all the pressure. Rest assured, there is no conspiracy involved in the investigation,” he told the delegation.

He clarified that certain individuals mentioned in the case were not immediately under investigation because the police focused on those named in the statements and corresponding evidence. However, he emphasized that a thorough investigation is underway regarding those individuals. “The police are actively collecting additional evidence since a case cannot solely rely on the statement of one person,” he added.

Shrestha clarified that he was not attempting to protect any party leader or person involved in the Bhutanese refugee case. “Criminal acts, regardless of the individuals involved, will be investigated fairly,” he said, assuring that investigations would continue in other cases as well.

On the occasion, the association submitted a memorandum to Shrestha, demanding the arrest of all those involved in the case and strict action against the culprits. It expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to spare individuals close to top leaders of the political parties. “It appears that the indictment was politically motivated, and the investigation has been influenced,” it said in the memorandum.

Police have filed charge sheets against 30 individuals involved in the scam under four different crimes.