The integrity of Nepal’s current cabinet is under fire as Prime Minister Balen Shah officially demanded a formal written explanation from Home Minister Sudan Gurung. This move follows reports of discrepancies in the Minister's asset disclosures and alleged professional ties with Deepak Bhatt, a businessman currently in police custody on money laundering charges.
According to the Prime Minister's secretariat, the Home Minister submitted his formal response on Monday evening. While Gurung publicly maintains that his multimillion-rupee investments in the stock market were funded through documented bank loans, the explanation has failed to silence critics. Serious inconsistencies remain between his legal asset filings and his recent defensive statements.
The controversy centers on four separate investment categories totaling over 43 million rupees. Records indicate that Gurung heavily invested in non-listed companies and founding shares shortly before assuming office. Critics point out that his original asset declaration cited "business and ancestral property" as the funding source, making no mention of the massive loans he now claims to possess.
Furthermore, Gurung’s official filings left the "debt and liabilities" section entirely blank, directly contradicting his current narrative of loan-funded investments. The lack of clarity regarding his partnership in firms initiated by Deepak Bhatt adds another layer of complexity, raising questions about whether these investments represent a conflict of interest or potential financial irregularities.
While the Home Minister questions whether investing in shares has become a crime, the core issue remains the transparency of those funds. As the public demands accountability, the Prime Minister's next steps will determine the stability of the ministerial ranks and the government’s stance on ethical governance.
