National
Supreme Court asks CIAA to clarify over Dixit investigation
The Supreme Court has sought clarification from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority for its move to investigate into property details of Sajha Yatayat Chairman and prominent civil society leader Kanak Mani Dixit.The Supreme Court has sought clarification from the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority for its move to investigate into property details of Sajha Yatayat Chairman and prominent civil society leader Kanak Mani Dixit.
A single bench of Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha has asked the CIAA to appear before court and clarify the reason behind investigating into property details of Dixit.
Dixit had challenged CIAA’s move after he was summoned at the anti-graft body while he was boarding for a flight to India. Dixit had accused the CIAA of breaching legal procedure and without mentioning particular charges.
Dixit, in his writ filed at the court, stated that the CIAA asking for his property details is against legal process and urged the apex court that the anti-graft body’s move be stopped by an interim order at the earliest. The writ petitioner, however, has made it clear that any authority mandated to investigate into his property in accordance with the law is free to probe and he is open to support.
On December 5, a CIAA official had handed over a summon letter to Dixit in the capacity of Sajha Yatayat head at the Tribhuvan International Airport. CIAA officials asked him to fill a 13-page property detail form when Dixit appeared at the anti-graft body after returning from India. Questioning over the CIAA’s intent to hand over the letter at the airport instead of submitting it to the Sajha Yatayat Office, Dixit has also asked the CIAA to make it clear whether the complaint was filed against him.
The petitioner has argued that the CIAA move was guided by the chief commissioner’s personnel “revenge and prejudice”. Dixit had opposed CIAA chief Karki’s
appointment citing his background.The CIAA had also summoned 29 politicians and bureaucrats without mentioning charges of involvement
in corruption.