Kathmandu, February 8:

Acting Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Lalit Bahadur Limbu today said the anti-graft body would take action against ministers, who have not furnished their property details, if the National Vigilance Centre forwarded a report related to the issue to it.

Addressing a press meet organised to inform mediapersons about CIAA’s 18th anniversary celebration, Limbu said, “We will take action against the erring ministers as we do with the bureaucrats. For that to happen, either the NVC should submit a report on erring ministers or somebody has to lodge a complaint at the CIAA against them.”

The CIAA will celebrate its anniversary on Tuesday.

CIAA commissioner Beda Prasad Siwakoti said the CIAA could investigate and direct even the ministers if they failed to abide by the law. “Law applies equally to all,” he assured.

The CIAA recently imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 against 16 government officials who did not furnish their property details as demanded by the law. The

anti-graft body also warned them of further action if they did not submit their property details. Limbu, however, said the ministers might submit their property details to the cabinet.

According to media reports, many cabinet members have been flouting the law by not furnishing their property details despite making preparation to do so within 15 days of their appointment.

Defending allegations that the CIAA is inactive in its anti-graft mission, Limbu said it had been focussing on promotional activities to combat corruption. “We won’t file weak

cases. If we file weak cases without necessary groundwork, the court will scrap them,” he said.