Finally, CIAA Acts
THE Commission for Investigation of the Abuse of Authority
(CIAA) raided the houses of the Finance Ministry officials who are suspected to have
accumulated wealth disproportionate to their positions. Of the 22 suspects who belong to
the Revenue Department under the Ministry, 16 have been arrested, and the CIAA officials,
who carried out the raid from late Friday evening to early Saturday morning, also seized
millions of rupees, huge amount of gold and silver and foreign currency notes from their
residence. The seized money and gold will be confiscated if the suspects fail to disclose
the sources of their property. According to the CIAA source, the raid, which comes just a
day after the CIAA Act 2048 Amendment Bill 2059 was given the Royal assent, was conducted
on the basis of the complaints filed against the finance officials, alleging them of
amassing undue wealth. The Commission believes that further investigation into the cases,
which has already been launched, will expose a large amount of property earned through
corrupt practices.
Corruption, by and large, has long remained one of the most
condemned yet a prevalent practices in our society, which is yet to accomplish the
tremendous tasks of development. There have been hues and cries, since long, from all
walks of life against the abuse of authority and financial irregularities that have
benefited a handful of high-level officials and politicians at the cost of people's
welfare. Despite the public uproar against the evils of corruption, CIAA had been a
toothless tiger in the past due to the lack of necessary legal provisions. Now that it has
been empowered through the amendment of the related Act, it has started showing what it
can do against the corrupt officials, no matter how high post they hold. And the current
raid and arrest is just one case. This move has received high acclaim from all those who
have been the victims of such an unlawful practice of amassing wealth through unfair
means. The CIAA deserves a pat on the back for what it has done and should expand its
investigations in the days to come with greater vigour. If the Commission keeps up its
campaign, it will be able to net other higher level officials who have abused their
authority for petty personal gains.
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