PM Shah’s Secretariat Interrogates Anti-Corruption Chief, Raising Concerns Over Institutional Independence

Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his secretariat conducted an intense eight-hour interrogation of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority's (CIAA) chief, Prem Kumar Rai, and other commissioners. The questioning centered on an ongoing investigation into a passport contract, a matter of significant public interest. Following the session, reports indicate that all involved CIAA officials switched off their mobile phones and appeared 'terrified'. This incident has immediately fueled debate about the autonomy of constitutional bodies and the separation of powers within the government. The direct intervention by the executive into an independent investigative agency's work signals a potential shift in the balance of power, sparking broader implications for democratic governance and accountability in Nepal.

• PM Shah’s office interrogates anti-corruption body chief for 8 hours over passport scandal, officials go silent.