People in general including parliamentarians often say that those involved in the crime network under the cover of political parties cannot be identified, and even if they are identified, they will go scot-free.
It had become a cliché that the law is only for the little ones and that the big ones get a discount no matter what crimes they commit. This has resulted in aversion among the people in general including intelligentsia towards politics in recent years.
The case of fake Bhutanese refugees has hit the headlines, of late, revealing how the network of corruption prevails in Nepal. It was confirmed that influential leaders of big parties were involved in this case.
Since the last week of April, Nepali politics has been revolving around this issue. That's why most of them thought that this case will not go forward and fizzle out soon since it involves influential leaders.
However, this time there has been a different scenario.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is taking charge as the Prime Minister for the third term, has taken a strong stand on this issue. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has given him strong support.
Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, an influential central member of the Nepali Congress was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the fake Bhutanese refugee case. Khand is a high-ranking leader ever arrested for corruption since Nepal adopted the Federal Democratic Republic.
The arrest of Khand, who held the command of the police, is an indication that this government is not in favor of acquitting the guilty.
So far, the details of his involvement regarding the fake Bhutanese refugees have not been made public.
However, the police have collected sufficient evidence of his involvement in this case. He along with the then Home Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey played a role in creating a fake report on refugees to collect money.
CPN (UML) secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi is another high-level leader involved in this case. The police have issued an arrest warrant against him, who won four times as a member of the House of Representatives from Arghakhanchi. However, he is absconding.
Tek Narayan Pandey, the then secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, who was involved in this case, is a high-level employee was arrested in this case. He had prepared a fake refugee file.
Former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa's security adviser Indrajit Rai has also been arrested along with him.
Top Bahadur's son Sandeep, Sanu Bhandari, Keshav Prasad Dulal, Tanka Kumar Gurung, Sandesh Sharma and Sagar Rai have been arrested on the charge of cheating Nepalis by sending them to America in the name of Bhutanese refugees. More than 10 people are still absconding.
This case has shown that only when the police are allowed to work independently, the investigation of major scandals is done.
Looking at the old examples of Nepali politics, this is a very bold step taken by the government. While the police were collecting evidence against the top leaders, there were speculations whether this case would go forward. However, Prime Minister Prachanda has instructed the police not to spare anyone and to work independently after receiving the evidence.
"The Prime Minister has given instructions to take action against whoever is involved in corruption cases. Former Home Minister Khand is mainly involved in this," Prime Minister Prachanda's press adviser Gobinda Acharya told Nepalkhabar, "This work will continue until it is solved."
The Prime Minister has also taken the support of Congress and UML in this work. On Wednesday, he also discussed with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, UML President KP Sharma Oli at Singha Durbar.
He said that there was an agreement between the three leaders that the guilty should not go scot-free and the innocent should not be penalized.
“We have given instructions to the police for an impartial investigation. “The police are working according to their rules," Prime Minister Prachanda said.
The Home Minister said that some more leaders are on the arrest list.
Prachanda reached Kavre on Monday and said that so far only the trailer is shown and now the film is yet to be screened.
“PM really started showing the film. Now this process does not stop. The course of events has confirmed the same," Acharya added.
Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa said market rumors and political meetings should not affect the investigation and requested to make the investigation independent and impartial.
Shortly after the arrest of Khand, an influential leader of the Congress, speaking at the Parliament meeting on Wednesday (May 10), Thapa expressed his happiness over the government's investigation.
"The guilty should not be spared, be it a leader or relative, and the innocent should not be penalized", said Thapa.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has expressed its readiness to support the government's move. There has been an outpouring of support for the government's move on social media.
Most of the people say that the government have to ruthlessly take action against those involved in sending Nepali citizens abroad as fake Bhutanese refugees.
