KATHMANDU, Sept 1: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ramesh Chand Thakuri has questioned the sincerity of the ongoing probe into the parka deal by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). [break]
“I understand that the whole episode is directed at me to vent a personal grudge rather than to find any real corruption,” claimed IGP Thakuri, responding to the queries of the lawmakers at the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the legislature-parliament.
The multi-million rupee parka deal is related to the purchase of 56,059 jackets for police personnel. The deal became questionable after the lowest bidder was not awarded the tender. The CIAA has been investigating into the deal. The constitutional anti-graft body has already grilled Thakuri over the deal. The parliament has also taken up the issue.
Filing the answers of lawmakers, Thakuri said he smelt rat in the way the CIAA went ahead with the investigation. “It was not a big deal for the CIAA to ask for the concerned files (from the police headquarters). It is sad that news reports stated that the CIAA raided the police headquarters instead,” he said.
The PAC had invited IGP Thakuri and Home Secretary Dr Govind Prasad Kusum to question them about the alleged embezzlement. It was alleged that the police awarded the contract to the Ananda Trade Concerns for USD 24 each, while avoiding the lowest bidder. On July 12, the CIAA had seized documents related to the deal and begun investigation. The amount allocated for the purchase of the jackets has been frozen with the end of the last fiscal.
According to Thakuri, there were altogether 10 bidders vying to supply the jackets. Only two offered the samples that met the criteria set up by the Quality Control Board and subsequently the lowest bidder Ananda Trade Concern was awarded with the contract.
“The deal was made as per the existing rules and regulations,” he said.
Thakuri argued that the way the CIAA began investigations in the case has sent a negative message to junior police officers, putting the integrity of police top brass in question. He said he had been forced to frequent the CIAA, while leaving aside his responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country. He also suggested that the government set up a separate mechanism to supply necessary materials to the police and keep it away from such controversies.
In the committee, Home Secretary Kusum said that the existing procurement laws authorize the CIAA to investigate into procurement deals. “I often have sleepless nights when I make such decisions,” said Kusum. The parliamentary committee also decided to summon CIAA officials to know about the progress of their investigation into the deal.
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