CIAA begins probe against Pathak on bribery charges

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has formed a three-member panel to launch probe into the allegation of corruption against former CIAA commissioner Raj Narayan Pathak, on Tuesday.

CIAA Spokesperson Rameshwor Dangal told Republica Online that the three-member panel has started its investigation into the bribery charges against Pathak. "We will launch a detail investigation in the allegation against him" Dangal added.

The CIAA's decision comes amid widespread demand to arrest Pathak after he resigned from his position admitting that he received Rs 7.8 million in bribe from the college management committee of a Bhaktapur-based college.

On Monday, the Office of the Attorney General, the apex legal advisory body to the government, advised the CIAA go ahead with such a probe. Pathak had resigned from the CIAA rather than face impeachment over allegations of involvement in a multi-million rupee bribery case.

A team of legal experts led by Attorney General Agni Kharel advised the CIAA to go ahead and establish Pathak's culpability in the corruption case.

Confused over the legal basis for investigating and suing its own commissioner, the CIAA had turned to the OAG for legal advice.

The legal team from OAG suggested to the CIAA that under existing provisions of the constitution and anti-corruption law, it can arrest Pathak and investigate the allegations of bribery. The team cited Article 239 (2) of the constitution and Article 39 (2) of the CIAA Act-2002 the OAG.

The legal advice to go ahead with the investigations was given within hours after the anti-graft body sought the legal opinion.

Article 239 (2) of the constitution states that the CIAA can conduct or cause to be conducted investigations into any person who can be removed from office through a motion of impeachment. “In the case of persons who can be removed from office by passing a motion of impeachment under Article 101, of judges who can be removed by the Judicial Council, and persons who are liable to action under the Army Act, investigations can be conducted or cause to be conducted in accordance with federal law even after such persons have been removed from office,” states the article.

The OAG mentioned that the CIAA can investigate its own officer(s) deputed by it in connection with some inquiry or investigations if it receives information that abuse of authority is being committed or is going to be committed by said officer(s), and that under such circumstances it is in fact incumbent upon the CIAA to intervene forthwith .

“In the case of an investigation officer deputed from the Commission in connection with inquiry and investigations, the said officer has to intervene immediately upon receiving information that abuse of authority is being committed or is going to be committed, and he may exercise the powers of arrest, search and seizure and other powers conferred by these rules,” states Article 39 (1) of the CIAA Act. Also, the CIAA Act-2002 mandates the anti-graft body to take a decision on its own when if it finds that any corruption or improper act has been committed in matters other than those mentioned in a complaint.

“The Commission may conduct investigations in matters not mentioned in the complaint and may take a decision whether or not to file case or take or not to take action on the basis of the said investigation,” states Article 39 (2) of the Act.

Pathak, who was assigned to look over corruption cases related to the education sector, had reportedly received Rs 7.8 million from the chief of the Nepal Engineering College management committee in return for favoring him in a row over college ownership.

Incidentally, Pathak allegedly reneged on the promise and also refused to return the bribe money.

Pathak resigned as CIAA commissioner after audio and video clips incriminating him were leaked to media and subsequently went viral on social media.

Lambodar Neupane, chairperson of the management committee formed to oversee the Bhaktapur-based Nepal Engineering College, had offered the bribe to Pathak seeking his favor for settling the row over whether to transfer public college into a private one so that he could get maximum benefit from the college. Since the bribe case was exposed by the media, pressure is mounting on parliament and CIAA to book Pathak.