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Investigate the allegation, says Sirohiya
Ajeya Raj Sumargi, who is being investigated by the authorities on the charges of money laundering and suspicious investment schemes, has alleged that Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya poses threat to his safety.Ajeya Raj Sumargi, who is being investigated by the authorities on the charges of money laundering and suspicious investment schemes, has alleged that Chairman and Managing Director of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya poses threat to his safety.
Sumargi’s claim comes at a time when KMG’s flagship newspaper Kantipur daily has been reporting about him.
He registered a petition at the Kathmandu District Administration Office on Tuesday, claiming that he has security threat from Sirohiya.
Sirohiya has said that Sumargi’s allegation is purely libellous, without a single shred of truth, that was prompted after the publication of the news reports about his attempts at importing money from overseas without following due procedure.
“I haven’t seen Sumargi in three years. His allegation is absolutely baseless. The authorities concerned should investigate into the matter.
“If the allegation is not established, then the person involved in defaming me and a professional media organisation should face appropriate action,” Sirohiya said, responding to the case.
Kathmandu Chief District Officer Kedarnath Sharma said on Wednesday that he has written to the Metropolitan Police Circle, Kathmandu, to establish whether there is any security threat as claimed by Sumargi.
A government study report has mentioned that Sumargi is involved in sending illegally earned money abroad and channelling them back as foreign investment.
A study report prepared jointly by the Anti-money Laundering Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation has also stated that the money Sumargi had moved into the country earlier from abroad and an additional Rs 20 billion that he is planning to bring in are illegal.
The investigation into these charges has been lackadaisical. There seems to be no haste on the part of the concerned body to investigate the case and initiate legal action if necessary.
Sources say that the Anti-Money Laundering Department has been showing apathy to Sumargi’s case due to the political patronage that he enjoys from some influential politicians, including CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.