The ruling CPN has initiated discussion about impeachment of Commissioner at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Raj Narayan Pathak.
Nepalkhabar news portal had published a news report about a video of Pathak taking bribe from promoter of Nepal Engineering College located at Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur Wednesday evening.
CPN has initiated discussion on impeachment after the news of Pathak taking a bribe of Rs 7.80 million from Lambodar Neupane, promoter of the college which currently faces ownership dispute, was published.
"We are discussing about impeachment," a CPN leader told Setopati. "It will be registered after a decision by the leadership."
CPN leaders, however, have advised Pathak to resign. The party may register impeachment motion if Pathak does not resign by Friday.
Law Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal stated that Pathak must answer the questions raised about him. "Questions must be answered once they arise. It would be appropriate if those with the knowledge provide a way out. It would be resolved through due process otherwise," Dhakal said.
The party is planning to collect the necessary signature of lawmakers before start of the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Friday. "He must immediately resign and the chief commissioner must investigate the corruption allegation against him," CPN leader Yogesh Bhattarai said. "The parliament has the option of impeachment otherwise."
Minister Dhakal also hinted about impeachment against Pathak. "The government wants to clean every sector. There must be clearance once an accusation has been made," he stated.
"We know the information. The individual must be aware about jurisdiction. Constitutional bodies will provide a way out otherwise," he added.
Promoter Neupane was trying to privatize public properties worth Rs 1.50 billion handed over to the college by the then Changu Narayan VDC. The issue came to the fore when the promoters themselves started to bicker.
The Education and Health Committee of the HoR a few weeks back had instructed the government to make the college a public property.
