No involvement of unauthorized person in budget preparation: Parliamentary special committee

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, July 29: The parliamentary special committee formed to inquire into the allegation to the former Minister of Finance Janardan Sharma about the involvement of an unauthorized person in the preparation of the budget has concluded that there was no involvement of an unauthorized person in the budget preparation. 

The committee has concluded that there was no involvement of the unauthorized person in changing the tax rate while preparing the budget for the fiscal year 2022/23. The committee explained it as irrelevant based on CCTV footage, discussion, and documents.

This was mentioned in the report submitted by the committee to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Agni Prasad Sapkota on Friday.

The report submitted by the committee has stated that the conclusion was drawn after collecting evidence and thorough the investigation by holding a discussion with the officials of the ministry of finance and receiving positive response in the regard along with going through the documents and CCTV footage derived. This as a whole proved that there was no involvement of the unauthorized person in tax ratings while preparing the budget.

The committee has stated that from now onwards the matter of the impact of tax rating irregularities on the economy will be looked after by the concerned parliamentary committee. 

The report submitted by the parliamentary committee of inquiry was handed by Laxman Lal Karna, president of the parliamentary committee of inquiry to Speaker Sapkota.

Janardan Sharma, former Minister of Finance, resigned from the post of finance minister on July 6 following the formation of an 11-member parliamentary special committee which was constituted to facilitate the investigation.

The Special Committee has been entrusted with the power to inquire into the issue raised in Parliament that an unauthorized person has entered the budget to manipulate the tax rate.

The report has finally given the former minister of finance a clean chit.