A parliamentary hearing committee has suspended the confirmation hearing of Chudamani Kharel, nominated as Nepal’s ambassador to Malaysia, after lawmakers raised complaints alleging financial irregularities, conflicts of interest and questionable dealings with recruitment agencies.
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee halted Wednesday’s hearing after Kharel presented his action plan, saying it needed more time to examine the complaints against him.
Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Rajiv Khatri raised several allegations against Kharel during the meeting. He said complaints had been received alleging irregularities in land transactions in Pokhara and the Madhesh, as well as financial dealings with recruitment agencies ahead of his proposed appointment as ambassador.
“Complaints supported by evidence allege that he took millions of rupees from some local people in Jhapa on the promise of securing grants for them, and began returning the money after he was nominated ambassador,” Khatri said. “We have also received evidence-backed complaints that he uses social media extensively but blocks people after taking money from them.”
Khatri also said complaints alleged that Kharel had received money from certain recruitment agencies in exchange for promises of helping them in his capacity as ambassador, and had used a vehicle provided by one of the agencies.
He further raised questions about millions of rupees in unsettled accounts from organisations where Kharel had previously worked.
“Documents have been submitted alleging that he took tens of millions of rupees on the promise of arranging land deals in Pokhara. We have also received complaints concerning land transactions in the Tarai-Madhes region,” Khatri said, adding that the allegations involved irregularities, conflicts of interest and financial transactions.
RSP lawmakers Samim Miya Mikrani and Kabindra Burlakoti, along with the Nepali Communist Party lawmaker Barshaman Pun, said the volume and seriousness of the allegations warranted further investigation.
Committee chair Bodh Narayan Shrestha then suspended the hearing, saying the committee needed time to verify the complaints. The procedure governing ambassadorial appointments requires nominees to have high moral character, he said.
“We can study these matters. If further discussion is needed, we will call you again. Committee members have received information through various channels that needs to be examined,” Shrestha told Kharel. “The most important issue is that controversial allegations have emerged concerning you. We need time to verify them.”
Kharel denied the allegations, saying false information had been circulated about him. He said the person who made an audio recording at the centre of the allegations had contacted him and sent him a recording in which the person said there had been no financial dealings. “I will provide that audio recording to the committee. There is nothing else to it,” Kharel said.
He denied having any contact with businesspeople. “I have not been in contact with any businessperson. If there is evidence to the contrary, let it be presented,” he said.
The committee subsequently adjourned the hearing, saying it needed more time to examine the issues raised.