The sub-committee formed by the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament has advised Bharat Shah, Chairman of the PAC, to recommend Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to investigate the sugar price hike.

The sub-committee formed under the leadership of Lekhraj Bhatta made the suggestion while handing over a study report.

Likewise, the committee has also suggested issuing directive to scrap the quota system imposed on sugar imports by the government.

The committee through the Finance Committee has suggested the government to scrap its decision to import quota of 100,000 tonnes of sugar for the current fiscal year.

The government on September 17 had put a cap on the import of sugar at 100,000 tonnes for the ongoing fiscal year in order to promote domestic factories. The price of sugar had increased sharply in the local market following the decision.

The sweetener became dearer by Rs15-20 per kg immediately after the quantitative restriction was announced. Manufacturers jacked up prices in the run-up to the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals when demand swells tremendously.

The PAC formed the sub-committee by investigating the issue.