Miscellaneous
Dixit arrested as public office-bearer: CIAA
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has stated that journalist Kanak Mani Dixit was arrested in his capacity as the Chair of Sajha Yatayat Cooperative Limited, a public entity.The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has stated that journalist Kanak Mani Dixit was arrested in his capacity as the Chair of Sajha Yatayat Cooperative Limited, a public entity.
In response to various comments from home and abroad over the arrest of Dixit by the CIAA last Friday, the CIAA in a press statement Monday argued that Dixit was taken into its custody and investigations on him was initiated not because he is a journalist but due to the multiple complaints received against him in course of his involvement as a public office bearer.
The Commission started in-depth investigation on the allegations against him and the subsequent investigations revealed significant discrepancies between the submitted property details and the details obtained by the Commission from various source. Dixit was requested to be present in person in the Commission and explain about this difference in his wealth as well as other confusions therein, the statement adds.
"The Commission summoned him twice but he did not listen. Similarly, he did not pay any heed to countless telephone calls and messages sent by the CIAA for over four months but neither responded nor appeared in the Commission. The Commission,then, sent a final seven-day summon to him on which he responded on the seventh day through a letter saying he could not cooperate in the investigation as he did not fall under its jurisdiction. And devoid of any choice, the Commission finally requested the local police authority to bring him to the Commission for carrying out the investigation."
Arrest Mr Dixit for investigation has been justified by the endorsement of the Special Court to continue with the investigation by keeping him in the judicial custody. It has further motivated to fight corruption with even greater dedication in the coming days, the CIAA argues in the statement.
"Kanak Mani Dixit is the chairman of Sajha Yatayat which is a state-run transportation company having more than 95 per cent shareholding of the state. As the state possesses an overwhelming chunk in the ownership of this company, it testified that he is public position-holder and thus, falls under jurisdictions of this Commission."
If Dixit is innocent, he can defend the charge at the Special Court and prove his innocence and Commission hopes that he will respect Nepal's laws, rules and regulations and cooperate in the investigations, the Statement said. Anyone found guilty of abusing of authority is not allowed to walk free by the CIAA and none is above the law, the Commission said. The Commission if free of biases and enmity of any kinds towards anyone and these accusations are totally baseless, the Commission reacts to what it said some quarter of people proximate with Dixit accused the Commission of working with an intent of taking revenge.
The CIAA urged one and all not to disseminate fabricated news regarding the arrest of Dixit, adding that it is always committed to the full respect of the human rights and has awarded the facility of medical treatment to Dixit. RSS