Kathmandu, January 19:

The Ojha Commission, which has been investigating excessive force used by the Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC), today interrogated Niranjan Thapa, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the King Gyanendra-led cabinet.

“We questioned him about his role as the designer of the RCCC. He denied involvement in forming the RCCC. He also denied taking action against democratic leaders,” a member of the commission said.

The commission is headed by former Appellate Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ojha.

According to information gathered by the commission, Thapa had played a key role in designing the RCCC with the intention to implicate democratic leaders in corruption cases. “He claimed he was working as the chairman of the Nepal Law Reform Commission at the time of the formation of the RCCC and later became Law Minister. He said he was not involved in the formation of the RCCC,” the member said. “I don’t know who designed the RCCC, but I forwarded a proposal at the Cabinet meeting, calling for extension of RCCC’s tenure,” the member quoted Thapa.

Chairman Ojha had interrogated Thapa. Thapa arrived at the Commission at 11 am and returned at 12.30 after giving his statement.

According to Ram Prasad Gaudel, another member of the panel, the commission will submit its report to the government in a week.