"I received a letter from the CIAA today (Sunday). The only public position I have held so far is that of member of parliament. On the other hand, my business firm has been functioning as per existing laws," said Bikram Pandey, an MP from Rastriya Prajatantra Party. "I am amused that the constitutional body has summoned me. I can comment further only after presenting myself at the CIAA. I'll support their investigations. I'll clear all the suspicions that they have," he added.
CPN-UML leader Surendra Pandey said that he will discuss the letter he received from the CIAA within his party and with his lawyers. "I am in Chitwan at present and the letter has been received by my family. I am ready to face investigations. A constitutional body that investigates such things stays clear of propaganda and I'm surprised that the CIAA made names public even before starting its investigations," said Pandey.
He even speculated that the investigation against him could be a revenge move by CIAA chief Lokman Singh Karki. Almost a year ago, Parliament's Finance Committee had summoned Karki to explain an order he issued to terminate the licenses of some hydropower projects. At the Finance Committee, Pandey had grilled Karki, accusing him of overstepping his jurisdiction. He had a heated argument with Karki.
"I was a minister and I can challenge anyone to investigate decisions I had taken in that capacity. If anyone proves that I had derived any undue benefit or had harmed the country, I'm ready for any punishment," added Pandey.
A CIAA official handed the summons letter to Sajha Yatayat chairman Kanak Mani Dixit, who is also a well-known civil society leader, at Tribhuvan International Airport when he was boarding a flight to India.
"The CIAA has summoned me in the capacity of chairman of Sajha Yatayat through a letter with registration number 734. I am impatience and curious to appear at CIAA's room number 416," tweeted Dixit.
"The person carrying the CIAA's letter was so energetic that he come inside the Nepal Airlines aircraft to hand me the letter when it was about to take off for Delhi," reads his second tweet regarding the issue.
Dixit had openly lobbied against the appointment of Karki at the anti-graft body, citing his involvement in oppressing the mass movement of 2006 and his controversial past as a bureaucrat.
Lawmaker Umesh Shrestha, who also runs a popular school in Lalitpur, said that he willl comment only after appearing at the CIAA. "I have received a letter to appear before CIAA officials within seven days. I am unaware why the CIAA has summoned me," he said.
Along with Shrestha, the CIAA has also summoned lawmakers Geeta Rana and Baburam Pokharel, who are also school operators and head associations of private schools. "We three have dedicated our entire lives to education. We became members of parliament only for a couple of years. We have not held any public position other than that. I can comment only after appearing at the CIAA," Shrestha added.
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