KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi has accused Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle of attempting to cover up alleged irregularities related to electric vehicle (EV) imports and tax exemptions.
Speaking during an emergency session in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Shahi said efforts were being made to conceal what he described as serious discrepancies involving EV taxation.
Recalling his time in the opposition alongside the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Shahi said lawmakers had previously campaigned for good governance and demanded parliamentary investigations whenever allegations were raised against ministers.
“We wore green ribbons in support of good governance and demanded parliamentary committees whenever questions were raised against ministers,” Shahi said. “Ironically, those who once protested from the opposition benches appear to have forgotten those principles after coming to power.”
Shahi claimed that the Finance Minister had provided misleading information to Parliament regarding tax exemptions granted on electric vehicle imports.
He cited the latest report of the Office of the Auditor General, saying findings on page 152 indicated irregularities involving EV imports. According to Shahi, vehicle motor capacities were allegedly manipulated to qualify for lower tax rates, resulting in tax exemptions worth Rs 2.85 billion.
“The Auditor General’s report clearly states that motor capacities of EVs were altered, leading to significant tax concessions,” he said.
Shahi further alleged that irregularities initiated under the previous government had continued under the current administration. He said the Auditor General had recommended the recovery of Rs 3.77 billion in unpaid duties and taxes linked to various customs-related discrepancies nationwide.
The RPP leader also claimed that around 3,000 electric vehicles entered Nepal between Jestha 1 and Jestha 14, prior to the announcement of the national budget on May 29.
“Vehicles arrived before the budget was unveiled and customs clearance was completed before the new tax rates came into effect. Such developments do not occur without prior knowledge of tariff changes,” Shahi alleged.
Calling for greater transparency, Shahi urged the government to form a parliamentary committee to investigate the matter.
“We are not asking anyone to be declared guilty in advance,” he said. “But the government should establish a parliamentary probe committee to thoroughly investigate the issue.”
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