KATHMANDU, April 15: In a move that signals a renewed push for accountability and governance reform, the government has constituted a high-level Asset Investigation/Inquiry Commission to examine the property details of key political leaders and senior bureaucrats who have held public office over the past two decades.
The commission has been mandated to collect and scrutinise asset declarations of major political office-bearers and high-ranking officials from 2006—marking the post-people’s movement political transition—through to the current Fiscal Year 2025/26. The timeframe underscores the government’s intent to assess wealth accumulation patterns across successive administrations in Nepal’s republican era.
A Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers approved the formation of the five-member body under the leadership of former Supreme Court (SC) Jjustice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari. The panel brings together a mix of judicial, law enforcement and financial expertise, with former justices Chandi Raj Dhakal and Purushottam Parajuli, former Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Ganesh KC and Chartered Accountant Prakash Lamsal serving as members.
Wealth Management
The formation of the commission follows through on a commitment made soon after the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah assumed office. On March 27, the Cabinet had decided to establish such a mechanism within 15 days.
The initiative is also anchored in the government’s broader governance reform agenda. The 100-point reform plan made public earlier had identified the investigation of asset declarations as a priority area, with this provision explicitly included under point 43. By institutionalising the probe through an independent commission, the government expects to gain both credibility and continuity in what has historically been a politically sensitive domain.
Asset transparency has long been a contentious issue in Nepal, often surfacing in public discourse amid allegations of corruption, misuse of authority and unexplained wealth among public officials. While asset declarations are a legal requirement, enforcement and verification mechanisms have frequently been criticised as weak or ineffective.
With a broad mandate covering both political figures and top bureaucrats, the commission’s work is expected to draw significant public attention in the coming months. If implemented effectively, it could mark a critical step toward strengthening transparency and restoring public trust in state institutions.
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