Kathmandu, February 14

The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmakers are preparing to begin impeachment proceedings against Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Raj Narayan Pathak, who has been accused of corruption, if he does not tender his resignation.

A top NCP source said the party would begin collecting signatures of its lawmakers tomorrow if Pathak did not tender his resignation soon. Pathak has been accused of receiving a bribe of Rs 7.8 million to settle corruption cases being investigated by the CIAA.

“We have the signatures of lawmakers ready at the Parliamentary Party Office,” NCP lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said when asked if party lawmakers were preparing to collect signatures to file an impeachment motion against Pathak.

Pathak could not be contacted for comments. A CIAA source said Pathak went to office today. “In the face of corruption allegations against Pathak, the CIAA can at most deprive him of key responsibilities,” a CIAA source said, adding that CIAA office bearers were relieved of their duties either when they tender their resignation or when they are impeached by the Parliament.

A high-level government source said allegation of corruption against Pathak was serious and the concerned body could soon launch an investigation against Pathak.

NCP-led coalition government, which also has Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal as its partner, has two-thirds majority in the Parliament, enough to pass an impeachment motion.

Pathak was appointed CIAA commissioner in 2015 after the Constitutional Council headed by late prime minister Sushil Koirala recommended him and four others as commissioners on 27 February 2015. Pathak, a permanent resident of Mahottari district, had retired from the post of deputy attorney general five years ago.