Speaking at the Parliamentary Good Governance and Monitoring Committee on Friday, Karki said nobody should be scared of CIAA moves. The parliamentary committe summoned Karki this morning to inquire about the recent controversy surrounding the CIAA’s jurisdiction.

In response to lawmaker Amar Bahadur Thapa’s question that he had been courting controversy ever since his appointment, Karki replied, “The CIAA is not Lok Man’s ancestral property.”

He urged his detractors to like the institution he is representing though they don’t like him. “I would work in an independent manner, if the institution is honoured. I am ready to stand before the people in case of any mistake from my side.”

The committee chairman, Sher Dhan Rai, asked the projects of national pride were stopped due to CIAA’s interference.

The CIAA’s serious attention has been drawn towards the halting of national pride projects, Karki responded. He expressed his commitment to conduct serous investigation of such issues and depute separate groups for the same.

Lawmakers questioned Karki if there was a growing trend of filing complaints against adversaries. He said the CIAA has initiated the process to take action those filing wrong complaints.

The CIAA chief said 800 cases have been investigated, of the total 23,000 complaints, filed.  He added 168 cases have been lodged at the special court.

When asked the CIAA’s probing of trade union leaders who protested against his appointment as CIAA chief, Karki said the commission has not been prejudiced in its investigation and prosecution.

Another lawmaker asked that the CIAA has been turning a deaf ear though several complaints have been filed against Bijaya Swar, a Agricultural Development Bank staff, who is sister-in-law of Karki in relation. But Karki repeated his commitment not to spare anyone regardless of the family ties.

At the committee, Karki notified about the difficulty faced by commission employees. “The CIAA employees do not want to be involved in the investigation of any high-profile official as the investigating officials will be transferred to work under the accused official after a couple of months. This will demoralize them.  He added that preparations are being made to form a separate service commission for the CIAA staffers. 

The CIAA chief claimed that the tendency to keep the law in one’s pocket is growing and that the commission is currently investigating the property of around 1000 big fishes. 

Earlier in November, the Parliamentary Finance Committee had criticised the CIAA for becoming involved in petty issues and while failing to catch the “big fishes”.

Likewise, the Public Accounts Committee, Agriculture and Water Resources committee of the Parliament have also decided to summon Karki to question him.

Karki has been getting a flurry of invitations from parliamentary committees following the CIAA’s directive to terminate the license of 13 hydropower projects.