Kathmandu: In a major political development that could reshape Nepal’s post-monarchy accountability framework, the newly formed government has announced a comprehensive judicial investigation into the assets of former prime ministers, the ex-king, presidents, ministers, constitutional office-bearers and senior bureaucrats who have held public office between 2006 and the fiscal year 2025–26.
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The initiative, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s administration, marks one of the most extensive corruption and asset scrutiny exercises ever undertaken in the country, covering nearly two decades of political leadership since the abolition of the monarchy and Nepal’s transition into a republic.
A five-member judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Rajendra Kumar Bhandari has been tasked with examining financial records, property holdings, income sources and potential discrepancies in declared assets of a wide spectrum of public figures.
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The probe will include former king Gyanendra Shah, three presidents, and all heads of government since 2005–06, including leaders from interim administrations. Prominent names under scrutiny reportedly include former presidents Ram Baran Yadav, Bidya Devi Bhandari, and incumbent president Ram Chandra Paudel.
Former prime ministers such as Girija Prasad Koirala, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Baburam Bhattarai, KP Sharma Oli, and Sher Bahadur Deuba are also expected to fall within the ambit of the investigation, along with interim leaders Khilraj Regmi and Sushila Karki.
The scope of the inquiry extends beyond past leaders to include current political figures and their associates. Officials indicated that the investigation may also cover current parliamentary speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, ministers Birajbhakt Shrestha and Shishir Khanal, as well as Rastriya Swatantra Party chief Rabi Lamichhane, who has previously held public office.
Significantly, the commission’s mandate also includes the examination of assets belonging to deceased political leaders, potentially bringing the financial records of families and heirs of leaders such as Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala under scrutiny.
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According to government officials, the panel will operate strictly on legal and evidentiary standards, with authority to seek financial disclosures, banking records and property documentation. The government has stated that the objective is to ensure transparency, accountability and public trust in governance institutions.
Cabinet spokesperson Sasmit Pokhrel said the commission will function independently and submit its findings along with recommendations for further legal action. He added that the report will be implemented by relevant state agencies once completed.
The move has been widely interpreted as part of a broader anti-corruption push following youth-led protests in recent years that demanded greater accountability from political elites. The commission was formed shortly after the recent electoral shift that brought the current administration to power on an anti-corruption platform.
Transparency Push or Political Earthquake?
Political observers say the scale of the investigation is unprecedented in Nepal’s history, as it simultaneously brings multiple generations of political leadership under formal scrutiny. However, analysts also note that the probe could trigger political tensions, especially given the inclusion of influential and currently active political figures.
Supporters of the initiative argue that it represents a long-overdue step toward transparency in public life, while critics caution that the investigation must remain free from political influence to maintain credibility.
Officials have confirmed that the commission will begin reviewing documentation in phases and may summon individuals for clarification where discrepancies are found. The process is expected to take several months, with further extensions possible depending on the complexity of financial records.
As the investigation begins, Nepal enters a period of heightened political attention, with the outcomes likely to have significant implications for the country’s leadership class and governance reforms.
