KATHMANDU: The CPN Maoist Centre on Wednesday formed a three-member panel to probe the alleged involvement of its eight lawmakers in a visa scam.

The investigation committee led by Amik Sherchan includes Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Pampha Bhusal as members, according to leader Mani Thapa.

Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's secretariat informed that the committee has been told to investigate into the charges against  lawmakers -- Goma Kunwar, Dor Prasad Upadhyaya, Sirjana Tamaru Khatri, Santa Kumar Tharu, Rupa Maharjan Shrestha, Ram Maya Bogati, Dil Maya Dhami and Dhana Pahari -- and submit a report within seven days.

A media outlet had published a news report today saying that the aforementioned lawmakers, recommended by the Government of Nepal's Department of Consular Services for Spainsh visa, had forged documents to add an assistant for each of them in the applications submitted to the New Delhi-based Spanish Embassy. According to the report, police were looking into the matter in connection with human trafficking.

The Government of Nepal had apparently made recommendations for them for visa to take part in different functions and conferences in different times in Spain.

Documents published by the report suggested that the lawmakers had sneaked in names of their personal assistants in the visa applications, apparently by forging the DoCS recommendation letters.

Though the panel has been formed, Thapa said, the Maoist leaders are skeptical about and have cast their doubts on the intention of the news reports that dragged the lawmakers into controversy.

"Many others might also have been involved in such case," he told THT Online, "But, it is suspicious that why the reports mentioned the names of Maoist leaders only."

Meanwhile, as many as 22 politburo members aired their opinions on the drafts of the party's organisational and election procedures.

Thapa said the meeting would resume at 11 am on Thursday.