Finance Minister Janardan Sharma resigned on Wednesday. After public controversy and widespread criticism following charges that he had employed two unauthorized persons to tweak tax rates on May 28. A day before he presented the budget for the next fiscal year.
He has been charged with breaching the budgetary discipline, which experts say amounts to financial crime.
“While I fully refute allegations against me, I have decided to cooperate in the investigation,” said Sharma in his address to Parliament. “I announce my resignation to facilitate the probe process.”
Sharma has been embroiled in a series of controversies. In the latest one, he was accused of inviting two unauthorized persons to change tax rates.
Finance Minister CCTV Controversy
Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma expected to Clarify regarding recent CCTV Controversy and other questions. Today in the Parliament & CPN UML wants a parliamentary investigation committee to be formed regarding the case.
Amid calls for a probe into Sharma, a new controversy arose. After the finance minister failed to provide the CCTV footage of May 28, saying only 13 days’ recording was possible to store.
While Sharma is in the dock, questions were also raised about Marasini.
“Secretary Marasini told us that he is going on a leave effective from Wednesday after he has also been dragged into controversy along with Sharma,” a joint secretary at the finance ministry told the Post.
Nepali Congress leaders including General Secretary Gagan Thapa have publicly demanded Sharma’s sacking.
There were also calls from civil society members to recall Sharma. And investigate the involvement of unauthorised persons in tweaking some tax rates.
In response to the demand for the CCTV footage, the Finance Ministry has said that it got erased because the record of only 13 days remains in storage.
The ministry’s response has raised multiple questions.
Also, civil society members have demanded Sharma’s resignation and a fair probe into the incident.