Parliamentary probe committee to consult with experts on forensic report

The House committee is investigating allegations of budget manipulation by former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma. Sharma, however, has been denying any wrongdoings.

NL Today

  • Read Time < 1

Kathmandu: A parliamentary probe committee formed to investigate allegations of budget manipulation by former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has started studying a report received from the forensic lab of Nepal Police.

The committee has decided to consult with experts regarding the report on the CCTV footage.

Secretary of the committee Surendra Aryal said that the report is under study as it contains technical details. “The meeting has been postponed as it is necessary to consult with experts reading the report,” he said. “The committee will discuss the report with experts at 4 pm today.”

A meeting of the committee held last Tuesday had decided to summon Minister Sharma to record his statement and send a hard disk from the Finance Ministry to the forensic lab to Nepal Police for data recovery.

Making a statement before a parliamentary committee formed to investigate allegations of budget manipulation by him, Sharma claimed that he was in the ministry till midnight on May 28, the day before the budget was tabled in Parliament, and only the two secretaries of the ministry, the head of the budget division, and other budget-related staff were present.

Sharma had tendered his resignation on July 16 after a parliamentary committee was formed to investigate accusations against him of manipulating the budget involving outsiders to alter tax rates in the budget speech just before it was presented before the Parliament. Minister Sharma, however, has been denying any wrongdoings.