Even in its initial phase, the body set up along the lines of India´s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is being perceived by the rank and file and officers of Nepal Police as a highly attractive destination, thanks to incentives and resources it is supposed to enjoy. [break]
The government also seems serious and is allotting exclusive budget for intelligence-based crime investigation for the first time in the country´s history.
“Never before have we had specific budget for investigation,” said Nepal Police spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bigyan Raj Sharma.
Though proposed jurisdiction of CIB is yet to be approved, the government plans to bring the body into operation for the time being through regulations that have been forwarded to the cabinet. But it will later be incorporated in the Police Act itself.
The CIB is already assisting investigations into the multi-billion rupee Unity scam, VoIP crime, and unresolved crimes of the past, according to Sharma.
Rationale
Nepal Police, despite being known for its skills in crime investigation, is seen as slack in intelligence-based investigation and its structure is often criticized for the inability to properly keep track of crime patterns, resolve major criminal cases and store intelligence in institutional memory.
“CIB aims to develop as an ultimate center of hope for crime investigation.” said the CIB Director Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rajendra Singh Bhandari. “It deals with high-profile organized crimes that challenge national interests.”
Primarily, the CIB will identify itself as the body that resolves a few high-profile cases every year. “Besides, our other proactive roles would reshape the face of crime investigation in the country,” he said.
The proposed regulations envisage CIB as a special body with prosecution rights and also having certain autonomy under Nepal Police. It operates under the sole and direct command of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and, therefore, averts the red tape for prompt actions.
The CIB would be basically dealing with heinous crimes and financial crimes.
“We have scattered agencies dealing with organized crimes. The central agency like this could incorporate all and also suffice to take up corruption cases,” Bhandari added.
The CIB has started its groundwork installing six different pillars -- kidnapping, murder, cyber crime, human trafficking, human rights violation, and organized financial crimes. To begin with, it will have a workforce of 172 investigative officials.
Nepal Police has asked the government for two chief authorities -- to take up the cases and to intervene if found manipulated -- to be at the disposal of the CIB. “This will help resolve crucial cases while also deterring malpractice at the hands of agencies concerned,” said a senior official at the CIB.
The CIB will have a nationwide network with its satellite offices that will be stationed as per requirement and remain movable as per the changing crime patterns.
Spending
Nepal Police has demanded Rs 50-60 million per year as intelligence cost to be spent by the newly established CIB command center in the capital. “We demand that each pillar at least has Rs 500,000 for intelligence-based operations,” said an official.
The estimate comes in the face of a big amount -- around Rs 600 million -- demanded for equipment and other resources.
The budgetary demand is ambitious considering Nepal Police´s history of five decades in which not a single penny was institutionally allotted exclusively for crime investigation.
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