Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has stated that he is prepared to cooperate with the investigation into the visit visa scam. At a press conference held on Wednesday, Lekhak mentioned that he is ready to assist in the investigation process as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has initiated an inquiry into the matter. He further added he could cooperate to ensure good governance is established in the state.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Lekhak emphasized that anyone found guilty after the commission’s investigation would face legal consequences, urging against premature assumptions. “After the investigation by the commission, whoever is found guilty will be punished according to the law, so let us not be hasty and make presumptions by bypassing the competent authority,” said Minister Lekhak. “As the conclusion of the investigation by the independent and competent constitutional body will be the ultimate truth there was no need for further clarification on this matter.”
During the press conference, Lekhak posed a rhetorical question regarding accountability, asking whether a departmental minister should take responsibility if a government employee is investigated or implicated in a case. He also queried whether the minister should assume responsibility for cases emerging annually from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Lekhak expressed his desire to respond to misleading news directly through a public forum, stating, “I had requested time through the Speaker on the very day misleading news was disseminated about me to respond to it. Being a people representative who supports democracy and parliamentary supremacy, I wanted to clarify the questions raised about me directly from the people’s forum, but that was not possible.”