SUPREME COURT SHOW CAUSE ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT SCAM

SC SHOW CAUSE ON RED PASSPORT SCAM
Kathmandu, 19 Sept.: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice against the defendants in the writ petition filed by CA member Biswanath Yadav, who has been suspended in the red passport scam, RSS reports.
The apex court has also summoned the sides concerned for a hearing in relation to whether an interim order should be issued on September 25.
A single bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi handed down the order in the name of the Legislature-Parliament Secretariat.
It may be noted that CA member Yadav was suspended by Speaker Subas Nembang after the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case against Mr Yadav at the Special Court on the charge of misusing his diplomatic passport.

Suspended CA member Yadav had filed the writ on September 1.
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EVADING TAX STATE OFFENCE SAYS MINISTER PUN
Kathmandu, 19 Sept.: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said that the tax payers who have been evading tax with the help of fake invoice are indulging in an act of state offense, RSS reports.

Speaking at a press conference organised at the Ministry of Finance on Monday, he said no stone would be left unturned in taking action as per the law against people indulging in such acts.

On the occasion, Minister Pun said investigation on 518 suspected tax payers is under way under the leadership of Department of Inland Revenue while a tax of Rs. 3.12 billion has been determined following investigation on 292 businessmen.

Responding to queries from journalists on the occasion, the Finance Minister said the inflation rate is 8.9 while foreign exchange reserve reached 2.89 trillion in the current two months along with Indian Currency reserve worth 61 billion rupees and revenue collection worth Rs. 6 billion in the same period.

This reserve by the Government is sufficient to handle import of goods and services for the next 213 days and though the balance of payment is favourable export has not been able to increase.

At the press conference organized following the approval of the budget estimates for Fiscal Year 2011/12 by the Legislature-Parliament on Sunday, Finance Minister Pun also disclosed that a high-level recommendation committee has been formed in order to investigate into the individuals and organizations charged of involvement in misuse of Indian currency with the help of fake customs declaration forms.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister also directed the Secretaries concerned to make necessary arrangement to ensure that the expenditure of the budget can begin from second week of November.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Banskota said the foreign donor agencies are very keen to support the development endeavours of Nepal and have expressed the commitment to foreign assistance worth Rs. 5.82 billion as of September 18.
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