We Need Justice, Not Another List of Scandals

Lucky Chand

The question citizens are asking the government is direct: When will investigations and legal action begin over the widebody aircraft purchase, Lalita Niwas, Giribandhu, Nepal Oil Corporation, Yeti, Omni, the cantonment funds, gold smuggling, cooperative fraud, Gaushala Dharamshala, airport construction, conflict-era human rights violations, the money reportedly burned at politicians’ homes, and assets allegedly hidden abroad?

The answer “investigations are underway” is no longer enough. Citizens want to know which agency investigated what, how far the evidence has been examined, why cases have not moved forward, how losses to public property will be recovered, and when victims will receive justice.

These cases are not all at the same stage. Investigations and prosecutions have advanced in some; others are before the courts, while some remain public allegations or disputes. An allegation is not a finding of guilt. The government must not declare anyone guilty for political gain. But it is also unacceptable to use the phrase “under investigation” to evade questions of accountability. Both the right to a fair hearing and the public’s right to know the truth must be protected.

The government should publish separate progress reports on the widebody aircraft purchase, Lalita Niwas land, Giribandhu Tea Estate, Nepal Oil Corporation’s land purchase, and public concerns involving Yeti, Omni and the cantonment funds. It should disclose when complaints or reports were received, which agencies investigated them, the amount of public loss established, whether charges were filed, the stage of any court proceedings, and the next steps.

Allegations concerning airport construction also require clear evidence and due process. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has filed a case at the Special Court against 55 people over alleged cost increases in the construction of Pokhara International Airport. Filing a case is not a finding of guilt; the court will determine guilt or innocence on the basis of evidence. But the government cannot remain silent about the progress of the case or its implications for public funds.

The credibility of legal action is measured not by the number of arrests, but by whether the law is applied equally to everyone. If investigations stall while a party is in power and move forward only after it leaves office, citizens may see the process as political retaliation rather than justice. Public confidence weakens further when the pace and outcome of investigations appear to depend on a person’s position, party, influence or wealth.

Investigative agencies must therefore be protected from political pressure. The written reasons for prosecuting or declining to prosecute should be made public. If a decision is made not to bring charges, the reasons should be explained clearly. Where evidence is sufficient, cases should proceed; where it is not, the public should be told why.

In the cooperative fraud cases, the central issue is not only the political standing of those accused; it is the money belonging to depositors. If ordinary people’s savings have disappeared, investigations must establish where the money went, who benefited and how it can lawfully be recovered. Arrests and questioning alone are not enough without a clear plan to compensate victims and return their deposits.

Rumours cannot be treated as evidence in claims about money reportedly burned at politicians’ homes or assets allegedly hidden abroad. Investigators must establish the source of funds and trace bank transactions and ownership through evidence and lawful procedures. If evidence is found, assets should be frozen and recovery pursued. If allegations are not substantiated, that too should be made clear.

The Gaushala Dharamshala dispute should not be labelled corruption without evidence. It concerns ownership, agreements and the management of public property. The state must implement court decisions and make records of such property transparent.

Accountability for conflict-era killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other serious human rights violations must not be postponed indefinitely in the name of political agreement. Independent investigations and judicial proceedings must determine which laws apply and who bears responsibility. Victims deserve truth, justice and reparation; those accused are also entitled to a fair hearing.

The government should now publish progress reports on every major case, identifying the responsible agency, the current legal status, the reasons for delays and the next steps. Parliamentary oversight should be strengthened to protect investigators from pressure. Plans to compensate cooperative victims and pursue assets abroad through legal channels should also be made public.

Citizens are not asking the government to declare every accused person guilty. Their demand is simple: no one should escape accountability because of influence. The government’s answer must be visible not in speeches, but in impartial investigations, court decisions, protection of public property and justice for victims.