KATHMANDU: Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Vice President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has stated that the committee led by former Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi cannot conduct an impartial investigation into the visit visa scandal.

Speaking during the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday during the time allotted by the Speaker, Wagle said Bairagi is within the radar of individuals currently in positions of authority, and thus lacks the independence required to carry out the probe.

“Shanker Das Bairagi is someone caught in a web of conflict of interest and must remain in the good books of today’s influential leaders,” Wagle remarked. “Our party believes he should not take on this responsibility. He himself is under the radar of competent agencies. If those under scrutiny are in the very agencies conducting the investigation, who will hold whom accountable?”

He also argued that Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak himself is under suspicion and has shown indirect involvement in the visit visa issue.

“The Home Minister is directly under suspicion. His indirect involvement is evident, and even direct protection has been witnessed,” Wagle said. “The Home Minister proudly stated that the committee was formed based on his own proposal. So now, will the accused be allowed to choose their own investigators?”

Before Wagle’s statement, Home Minister Lekhak had addressed Parliament and said that he had personally proposed the formation of the investigation committee during the Cabinet meeting.