In a decisive push toward institutional accountability, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has initiated legal action against 4,662 individuals over the past five years. This sweeping crackdown targets a spectrum of power, ranging from former Prime Ministers and cabinet ministers to local representatives and high-ranking civil servants. According to official data, the Commission filed 798 corruption cases in the Special Court during this period, seeking a staggering recovery of Rs 31.52 billion in embezzled funds.
The scale of investigations has seen a notable upward trajectory since the current leadership took office in early 2021. Statistics provided by CIAA spokesperson Suresh Neupane reveal that complaints jumped from approximately 24,000 in the 2021/22 fiscal year to over 37,000 in the most recent period. This surge in public reporting has resulted in a consistent flow of litigation, with the Commission maintaining an average conviction rate of 55 percent at the Special Court.
The legal battle extends beyond initial verdicts. In instances where the Special Court did not establish guilt, the CIAA has demonstrated its persistence by taking 719 cases to the Supreme Court for review. A significant hurdle identified by the Commission was the 2021 court ruling that invalidated "sting operations," which officials believe contributed to a temporary dip in success rates for bribery-related cases.
High-profile defendants include former Prime Ministers and several former ministers associated with scandals such as the Wide-body aircraft purchase, Teramux procurement, and the Pokhara International Airport construction. The list of accused also features former Chief Secretaries and various ministry secretaries, highlighting that no level of the hierarchy has been immune to scrutiny. As the CIAA integrates new mandates to investigate money laundering alongside corruption, the focus remains on evidence-based prosecution to uphold its constitutional obligation of ensuring integrity in public office.
