Nepal's anti-graft body to continue probe against 29 high-profile individuals, officials say

Nepal's premier anti-graft body, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), will not stop investigation against 29 high-profile individuals who are facing corruption charges, Chief Commissioner of the CIAA, Lokman Singh Karki, said here on Wednesday.

"We will complete investigation against those 29 people at any cost who are currently under our investigation even if I am forced to relinquish my job," Karki said while addressing a function organized to mark the International Anti-Corruption Day in the Himalayan nation.

"The CIAA brought them under investigation as per its jurisdiction and existing anti-corruption laws."

Karki reiterated that the CIAA would continue its drive to reduce corruption in Nepal.

The chief commissioner's remarks came five days after the anti-graft body summoned six former ministers, high-profile politicians, bureaucrats and civil society leaders for interrogation in potential corruption charges.

Sending letters to the 29 individuals on Saturday, the anti-graft body summoned them to appear before the CIAA within seven days.

The former ministers who are currently under the investigation of the CIAA are Shankar Koirala, Tek Bahadur Gharti, Bidhyadhar Mallik, Umakant Jha, Ram Kumar Shrestha and Chhabi Raj Panta.

They have been accused of amassing property by illegal means, the CIAA official said.

This is the first investigation case against high-profile personalities after the appointment of Karki as the head of the anti-graft body in May 2013. Endit