KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Khagendra Sunar has demanded the formation of a special investigation committee, alleging irregularities in the procurement of shoes, socks, uniforms and other supplies by Nepal Police.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee under the House of Representatives, Sunar claimed that corruption had occurred in the purchase of police equipment and called for an impartial investigation, especially as questions have already been raised regarding Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki.
Sunar said allegations were not limited to shoes, socks and clothing, but also extended to the procurement of batons. “If corruption can occur even in the purchase of batons, then with what moral authority will those batons be used against citizens?” he said during the committee meeting.
He recalled that former police chiefs Om Bikram Rana, Hemu Bahadur Gurung and Ramesh Chand Thakuri had previously faced imprisonment in corruption cases, arguing that the current allegations also warranted serious scrutiny.
The RSP lawmaker further alleged that corruption was depriving lower-ranking police personnel of their basic entitlements. “A poor young man joins the police as a constable, and even his shoes, socks and clothing are being stolen through corruption,” he remarked.
According to Sunar, the controversy surrounding procurement has damaged not only the image of Nepal Police but also Nepal’s international reputation. He said lawmakers had been elected to fight corruption and therefore could not remain silent on such issues.
He specifically demanded a separate probe committee to investigate the procurement of shoes and uniforms. Although the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is reportedly conducting an inquiry, Sunar questioned its impartiality and insisted that a special independent committee be formed.
“Cases involving one’s own associates cannot be investigated fairly by the same circle. A special committee must conduct a clear and impartial investigation,” he said.
Sunar also raised questions about reports that Rs 30 million had been stolen from the IGP’s residence. He asked whether the incident had actually occurred and demanded clarification. “If theft can occur at the IGP’s own house, what security can ordinary citizens expect?” he said, adding that if the money was indeed stolen, the police chief should publicly acknowledge himself as a victim.
He further called for the truth to be established regarding allegations that individuals linked to the reported theft were detained and tortured by the Special Bureau.
Responding to the committee, IGP Karki denied any financial irregularities or corruption in Nepal Police procurement procedures. He was answering a complaint lodged with the Public Accounts Committee alleging a Rs 600 million embezzlement in the procurement of police uniforms for election security during the March 5, 2026 election.
Karki said the allocated funds had not been transferred to traders’ accounts, but to the designated individual accounts as per the approved procedure. He added that anonymous complaints are frequently filed and claimed that 32-34 complaints had come from the same group.
Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha also defended the procurement process, stating that no new standards had been introduced for uniform purchases. He said the payments had been implemented according to the prescribed system and that the government’s actions were not different from past practices.
