A commission formed to investigate the assets of officials who held positions since 2006 has been given a sweeping mandate to scrutinise the wealth—including foreign-held assets—of public office holders from local government chief to the prime minister, as well as senior civil servants. To investigate foreign-held assets, the commission will seek assistance from Interpol, Nepali diplomatic missions abroad and other investigative agencies where necessary

The government, through a decision taken on April 15, constituted the commission chaired by former Supreme Court justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari. It has authorised the body to examine the assets of first-class government officials and above, along with elected representatives from the local level up to the highest executive offices.

According to the mandate published in the Nepal Gazette, the commission will also bring under scrutiny gazetted second-class officers who have served as office heads. In the case of constitutional bodies and the judiciary, the investigation will extend to those who have been dismissed from service. For the Nepali Army, retired officers from the rank of colonel up to former chiefs of army staff will also fall within its ambit.

However, for serving officials of constitutional bodies and incumbent military personnel, the commission will only proceed with investigations upon receiving complaints, and such cases will be referred to the concerned institutions for further action.

The mandate does not explicitly clarify whether currently serving high-ranking officials will be investigated in their present roles. A member of the commission said the inquiry would not be limited by the current designation but would consider individuals’ past roles in public office.

“Investigations are not conducted based on current positions. If someone has previously held a public office and falls within the mandate defined in the Gazette, we will certainly examine those cases,” the member said, adding that detailed procedures and guidelines will be developed as required.

The Cabinet meeting formed the five-member commission for a one-year term. Alongside chair Bhandari, members include former appellate court judges Purushottam Parajuli and Chandiraj Dhakal, former DIG of Nepal Police Ganesh KC, and chartered accountant Prakash Lamsal.

Two weeks after its formation, the government clarified the positions of officials and employees who will fall under the scope of the asset investigation.

The commission has been tasked with collecting and verifying asset details of individuals currently holding or previously removed from public office, as well as their family members, both within Nepal and abroad.

The scope includes prime ministers, deputy prime ministers, ministers, ministers of state, and provincial ministers who have served since the 2006 political change. Former members of Parliament and constituent assemblies are also included.

The mandate further covers former heads and office bearers of constitutional bodies appointed under the Constitution 1990, the Interim Constitution 2007, and the Constitution of Nepal 2015, as well as former judges and retired senior army officers.

Provincial leaders—including provincial heads, chief ministers, ministers and members of provincial assemblies—are also within the scope. Likewise, officials of former district development committees and current district coordination committees, as well as local-level mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons and vice-chairpersons, will be investigated.

The commission’s jurisdiction extends to Nepali ambassadors and staff at diplomatic missions, as well as civil servants, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department personnel holding gazetted first-class rank or above.

It also includes second-class officers in civil service, parliamentary service and health service who have served as office heads, as well as police and intelligence officials of equivalent rank who have held leadership roles.

Senior officials of Nepal Rastra Bank—including the governor, board members, deputy governors and executive directors—will also be scrutinised. The same applies to top officials of government-owned banks and financial institutions, as well as commissions, authorities, boards, committees and centres.

Executives of public enterprises with full or partial government ownership—including chairpersons, directors, managing directors, chief executive officers and senior staff—are also covered. Officials of universities and institutions receiving government grants are likewise included.

The mandate also extends to advisers, personal aides and secretaries appointed formally or informally to high-ranking officials such as the president, vice president, prime minister, chief justice, speaker and ministers, regardless of whether they received remuneration.

The commission is authorised to investigate assets suspected to have been acquired through illegal means, including those concealed domestically or abroad in the names of family members, relatives or unrelated individuals.

Shree Hari Aryal, senior advocate and former chair of Transparency International Nepal, said the move to investigate assets of those who have held public office is positive, but cautioned that it must not contradict precedents set by the Supreme Court.

“Examining the assets of public officials is a good step, but it cannot go against established precedents,” Aryal said. “The government can investigate whether assets were acquired through illegal means, but it must not interfere in the jurisdiction of constitutional bodies such as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.”

He added that the commission should function in a way that does not undermine existing institutions, and that it would be too early to comment before work begins.

The commission has been assigned a two-phase timeline. In the first phase, it will examine assets accumulated from 2006 to the present day. In the second phase, it will extend investigations back to the period between 1991 and 2005.

Priority will be given to individuals deemed at higher risk of corruption or illicit enrichment, including those who have faced complaints, disciplinary action, or who display wealth disproportionate to their legal sources of income. Officials who have worked extensively in revenue, land administration and transport sectors—areas considered susceptible to corruption—will also be prioritised.

The Gazette states that the commission will carefully assess both inherited and legally acquired wealth, as well as any increase in such assets. Investigations will be conducted confidentially to avoid harming individuals’ personal and public reputations.

The commission will also examine the financial standing of individuals suspected of holding assets abroad, coordinating with Nepali diplomatic missions, Interpol and other investigative agencies where necessary.

It is empowered to collect evidence through written, oral and electronic means, including information from social media. It may also consult experts, provided there is no conflict of interest.

The commission can issue public notices granting a 30-day window for individuals to submit information or evidence related to suspected illicit assets. Informants must disclose their identity and contact details, though confidentiality will be maintained in accordance with the law.

Government bodies are required to provide requested information within 15 days. Failure to comply may be reported to the government.

If the commission finds evidence of illegal asset accumulation, it will prepare detailed reports and recommend further investigation and legal action through relevant authorities via the Prime Minister’s Office.

The government is required to initiate necessary action within 45 days of receiving such recommendations.

The commission may be dissolved based on necessity or justification. In the event of dissolution or completion of its term, all records and documents will be transferred confidentially to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

A total of 38 staff positions have been created for the commission, including legal, administrative and investigative personnel such as joint secretaries, under secretaries, government attorneys, police officers and technical staff.

Notably, the commission has the authority to conduct investigations and simultaneously recommend action against individuals as cases are concluded.

Despite the formation of previous asset investigation bodies, implementation has remained weak. A commission led by then Supreme Court justice Bhairav Prasad Lamsal, formed in 2002, had submitted its report after examining assets of more than 30,000 individuals. However, the report has never been made public.

Similarly, an anti-corruption royal commission formed in 2005 under direct rule by King Gyanendra Shah was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and dissolved.

Although the Lamsal Commission was legally constituted under the 1990 constitution, its findings were never disclosed. Calls for transparency and accountability have persisted since then, but successive governments failed to act.

The newly formed commission marks a renewed attempt to scrutinise wealth accumulated by those in power over the past two decades, amid growing public demand for accountability in governance.