The RCCC member terrorizes businessmen in Birgunj Kathmandu July 1-Businessmen in southern town of Birgunj—a major business hub of the country—have been terrorized due to haphazard raids being carried out by a team of the controversial Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC), a leading newsmagazine reported. According to Himal khabarpatrika, a seven-member RCCC team led by Commission member Prem Bahadur Khati has already raided over two dozen business firms in Birgunj. He has also visited government offices like land revenue, transport, electricity and asked for documents the staff were dealing. Local officials said the Commission had asked with them details of those who had become millionaire overnight. Khati’s `childish’ behavior has been exposed with his contradictory statements. At one occasion, he said he would be investigating into the cases related to ‘fly-by-night millionaires.’ On the very next occasion, he said he would also be investigating into transfer of school teachers as well as VDC secretaries who had not completed their projects. Said Bijay Sarabagi, president of the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), “Agencies like customs, internal revenue and revenue investigation department are already operating in Birgunj. Now RCCC is here. (We don’t know) towards how many agencies do we need to be accountable. If the situation persists, we will have no option but to give up businesses.” Said another businessmen, “It is not appropriate to harass the businessmen who are already suffering from Maoist extortion and constant inspection by various agencies.” Located at Nepal-India border, Birgunj is a major trading and industrial town and the major import hub of the country. Inland Container Depot (ICD), also known as `Dry Port’ has already been set up and is in operation in this city. Khati had led an anti-corruption rally in Birgunj some one and half years ago with the help of controversial businessmen like Bhola Shah, Rajnish Sindhi and Dipak Manange.’ During his latest trip, the RCCC took into custody, Umesh Tibrewala--business partner of former minister and Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Rajiv Parajuli—overnight and released him the next day. Tibrewala said a police inspector asked him if he had Parajuli’s property in his name. “They repeatedly asked me about details of my property,” he added. An official with the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) said, “When you don’t have to follow rules and regulations then you are free to do whatever you like.” Talking to Himal khabarpatrika, Khati said the RCCC had to be constituted as the CIAA and special court had failed to discharge their duties. He also refuted reports that he was harassing the businessmen. “Those who have personal grudges against me are talking like that,” he added. Khati further said through his investigation he had found that smuggling and bribery were rampant in Birgunj. “In the land revenue office, I found that the employees were taking bribe between Rs 5 to 35. Ever since I arrived here, offices have become active, smugglers have become alert and revenue collection has gone up,” he claimed. Khati has said he will open an ‘ijlas’ (a trial court) of the Commission in Birgunj and will send all the corrupt people to jail. He, however, clarified that whatever he was doing now was `only an investigation.’ RCCC was constituted after the royal takeover of February 1. It has been authorized to investigate, prosecute and hand out verdict on cases of corruption. Critics say to vest all these powers into a single agency is against basic norms of natural law. Opposition parties have even alleged the Commission of working out of political vendetta. RCCC officials deny such allegations. (Nepalnews/Himal special) Courtesy: www.nepalnews.com

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