Opposition Party Demands Parliamentary Probe into Finance Minister Over Tax Leakage

Kathmandu. The opposition party Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has demanded the immediate formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee, alleging that Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle manipulated tax rates and leaked highly confidential information before the budget.

Speaking to journalists at the Federal Parliament building premises on Monday, RPP's Parliamentary Party Leader Gyan Bahadur Shahi claimed that Finance Minister Wagle disappeared 17 pages related to the manipulation of tax rates while in the ministry. He stated that the Finance Minister has no legal right to make such information disappear, questioning the motive behind making the parliamentary property vanish.

Leader Shahi mentioned that tax rate leakage led to vehicles being cleared without reaching customs and asserted that the Finance Minister should be thoroughly investigated.

Recalling incidents from the tenure of the previous Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, he said, “Previously, when Janardan Sharma was there, the CCTV scandal happened. Now the BYD scandal has emerged. This is not a trivial matter.”

He claimed that information about the policy changing from customs tax based on weight to tax based on value, which was being formulated, was leaked on the 14th. Shahi stated that after the information was leaked, the concerned company cleared 773 vehicles without them reaching customs, and they were brought in only on the 20th.

He clarified that approximately 1200 vehicles were brought into Nepal in a similar manner through various checkpoints including Koral, and this matter only came to light after the Armed Police became aware of it. He stated that highly confidential information like tax rates would not be known to anyone other than the Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary or Revenue Secretary authorized by him, or the Director General of Customs or other employees.

Shahi warned that the Finance Minister cannot escape by blaming junior employees, recalling that there is a legal provision for treason charges against those who commit such serious crimes. He stated that the support and majority given by the people do not grant the right to commit crimes.

Leader Shahi informed that the RPP has also raised the issue in Parliament, demanding strict action against those responsible for the leakage of tax rates, which is an extremely serious matter, and that a parliamentary committee should be formed to investigate the Finance Minister himself.