Deputy Secretary Chhabi Rijal, who has been facing accusations of ordering forceful suppression during the Gen-Z movement, is now also under investigation on corruption charges.
As the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Rijal had ordered police to open fire during the protest on Bhadra 23. In his written response submitted to the Supreme Court, he defended his action by saying it was done “under political coordination.”
Before serving as Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer, Rijal was the head of the Administration Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
During the tenure of then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Rijal—who served as the head of the Administration Division—reportedly acted “against professional conduct” by transferring staff to the Immigration Department and other lucrative offices.
According to documents submitted by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to the Special Court, an investigation is underway against Rijal on corruption charges.
The probe also covers individuals whose names appear in suspicious activities and diary entries, including Home Minister Lekhak’s personal secretary Badri Tiwari, private secretary Janak Bhatt, Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi, and the Chief Immigration Officer at the International Airport, Tirtharaj Bhattarai.
Rijal has currently been placed under the additional group of the Ministry of General Administration.
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