CPN (Maoist Centre) Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal has called on the government to launch an investigation into the property of Ajeya Raj Sumargi.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club on Thursday, Bhusal insisted that Sumargi did not have any special relationship with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Nor did he enjoy political protection from the party. “If Sumargi has amassed property illegally, the government should find out the truth,” she said. “So far, the media has exposed Sumargi’s activities. Now the government should act on it.”

Bhusal is the first politician to openly call for investigation against Sumargi, who is under the scanner of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) for bringing around Rs9 billion illegally into Nepal through “suspicious companies” based in tax havens. In fact, no Maoist leader is keen to talk about Sumargi for his suspected links with Dahal.

Despite the probe questioning Sumargi’s investments in Nepal, the government has yet to take stern measures against him. The preliminary probe shows that Sumargi and his companies have received over Rs 12 billion from “suspicious companies” based in British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Egypt and Belarus.

Sumargi may have formed a shell company in the British Virgin Islands to transfer billions to Nepal, according to the report. Sources said the DMLI is pressed by parties and top officials not to further the probe. A DMLI team briefed Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki on the matter this week. Sources said Karki, however, did not issue any specific order to expedite the probe. Karki said the DMLI is working in line with the law. There is no pressure not to carry out a probe now, DMLI Director General Jeevan Prakash Sitaula said.