Nepal’s recently elected administration has formed an investigative committee to examine the wealth and property holdings of government officials and politicians, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against corruption.
The initiative comes from Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper whose Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieved a decisive win in parliamentary elections held on March 5. These elections marked the first time voters went to the polls following major anti-corruption demonstrations led by young protesters in September.
Shah built his political reputation during his tenure as Kathmandu’s mayor, where he became known for his reform-minded approach and aggressive stance against corrupt practices in Nepal’s capital.
Cabinet spokesperson Sasmit Pokhrel announced that retired Supreme Court Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari will lead the five-person investigative committee.
“An impartial investigation will be carried out on the basis of evidence based on legal standards … Its report and recommendations will be implemented by concerned agencies of the government,” Pokhrel stated during a press briefing following Wednesday evening’s cabinet session. He did not specify a deadline for the panel’s work.
Political observers anticipate the investigation will examine hundreds of current and former officials who have served in government positions since the popular uprising that ended Nepal’s 239-year monarchy in 2008.
The three-year-old RSP campaigned heavily on anti-corruption promises and successfully defeated established political parties that had controlled the country’s government for many years.
