KATHMANDU, July 5: The National Vigilance Center (NVC) has initiated an investigation into whether the Nepal government's secretaries have obtained foreign permanent residency (PR) cards, including those of the US and the UK.

According to senior officials of the NVC, the investigation process was initiated after the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (PMO) directed them to investigate the matter of government employees obtaining PR permits of various countries.

According to the NVC, the PMO directed an  investigation into the matters of obtaining PR by Kiran Raj Sharma, secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Ram Prasad Mainali, an under secretary at the Ministry of Finance.

According to PMO sources, a written complaint has been filed at the PMO against Sharma and Mainali for allegedly acquiring foreign PRs. Last week, the PMO sent a letter to the NVC regarding this instruction.

According to the investigating officer of the NVC, it has prepared to investigate the matter of Sharma, Mainali and other employees who are allegedly holding foreign PR permits. Before doing that, the NVC will summon the two accused employees and seek an explanation from them. Sharma and Mainali admitted that they once had obtained foreign PRs but claimed they had given up those foreign residency permits.

Sharma said that he had provided information to the Nepal government about giving up his foreign PR permit. However, an employee at the Ministry of Federal Affairs said there is no evidence in the records of the ministry that Sharma had given up his foreign PR permit.

Similarly, Defense Secretary Mianali said that he had given up UK PR 10 years ago. He said, “I had obtained UK PR but I gave it up 10 years ago. Now Mainali is in the UK. He is scheduled to return to Nepal next week. According to sources at the NVC, Mainali’s family has been living in the UK for a long time. Similarly, Sharma’s family has been living in the US for a long time.

Under Secretary Mainali is currently employed at the Public Finance Management Training Center, Harihar Bhawan. Previously, he worked at the Customs Office in Birgunj. Similarly, Sharma has worked in several government agencies, including as the chief secretary of a province, before joining the Ministry of Defense.

In 2014, the then Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit, implemented a rule that government employees who had taken foreign PR permits could not work in government service. He had publicly announced the campaign 'Quit PR or Quit your Job'.

At that time, many government employees had chosen not to give up their PR status, opting to resign instead. For example, the then secretary Nab Raj KC did not renounce his US PR; instead, he resigned from his position.

 
• NVC