Kathmandu, August 29:

Defying a summon issued by the Royal Commission for Corruption Control, former minister and central committee member of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), Bhim Rawal, today moved the Supreme Court challenging the RCCC intervention in a case already settled by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. The CIAA had given Rawal a clean chit six years ago in a case related to leasing an aircraft of South West China Airlines when he was the minister for tourism and civil aviation. The RCCC yesterday directed Rawal to appear before it or face arrest.

Rawal, in a writ petition in the SC, has sought a quo warranto order against the RCCC. The Cabinet Secretariat, the RCCC, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General, have been made the defendants. “The RCCC’s action is against Articles 84, 85, 97, 98, 110, 11, 12 and 14 of the Constitution and it violates my fundamental rights,” he claimed. Rawal also requested the SC to see to it that he is not arrested till a final decision is made on the petition. Rawal told reporters after filing the petition that he is ready to face the consequences, but is not ready to accept the royal graft commission’s move.