RCCC chairman, members appear before Ojha Commission

The judicial commission investigating into the actions of the now-defunct Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) interrogated RCCC chairman Bhakta Bahadur Koirala and two other members on Monday. RCCC chairman Koirala and members Prem Bahadur Khati and Shambhu Bahadur Khadka recorded their statement before the panel, which is headed by Appellate Court judge Madhav Prasad Ojha, regarding the allegations of financial irregularities and harassment of political leaders in the name of investigating corruption.

Coming out of their interrogation, the RCCC functionaries defended their action, insisting that the commission was formed for the sole purpose of investigating corruption cases.

Koirala said the RCCC was not involved in any kind of ‘excesses’ and challenged that the probe commission take action against him lawfully. Khati also made similar claim. “We didn’t do anything illegal. And there is nothing to regret about what we did as RCCC members. The RCCC’s aim was not to harass political leaders but to investigate corruption cases.”

Another RCCC member Khadka refused to talk to media persons present outside the commission premises at Pulchowk. The Ojha panel will continue interrogation of others associated with the Royal Commission, which was dissolved after a Supreme Court order on February 13.