In a direct confrontation with Nepal’s anti-corruption watchdog, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka on Sunday openly challenged the authority of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), declaring that he has no fear of its probe regarding the controversial plan to waive more than Rs 8 billion in unpaid electricity dues for industrial users.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in Kathmandu, Minister Khadka lashed out at NEA employees who questioned his repeated attempts to scrap the outstanding dues from dedicated and trunk line industrial consumers. In a fiery and highly political speech, Khadka accused the officials of blocking his efforts to “resolve” the dues and ridiculed the CIAA’s investigation letters as mere paperwork.

“Just because someone sends a letter to the CIAA, you think I will stay silent? Do you think we are afraid of the CIAA? They are institutions we ourselves have created,” Khadka said, in a direct rhetorical assault rarely seen from a sitting minister toward the constitutional anti-graft body.

The controversy centers on long-standing dues owed by factories and large industries that used special dedicated lines and bulk power from NEA. According to internal NEA records, the dues have reached over Rs 8.25 billion, and Minister Khadka has been repeatedly pushing for these to be written off, arguing that only consumption recorded on TOD (Time-of-Day) meters should be considered.

Minister Under Fire for ‘Plot’ to Scrap Arrears

NEA officials present at the program accused the minister of undermining the institution by forming multiple committees with the aim of canceling industrial dues. They insisted that tens of billions of rupees in payable bills could be permanently lost if political pressure continues.

In response, Khadka accused NEA employees of failing to collect arrears for a decade. “For ten years you didn’t collect the dues, and now you blame the minister? The government gave you full authority,” he shouted, challenging employees to prove consumption via TOD meters rather than vague billing complaints.

Khadka also implied that the NEA and government committees under his ministry—not the CIAA—should decide the matter, a statement that raised serious concerns of executive overreach and interference in an ongoing graft investigation.

The minister’s remarks came after the CIAA sent multiple letters instructing the NEA not to waive the dues under any political pressure. CIAA Chief Prem Kumar Rai has already questioned NEA Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya and warned that forgiving the arrears could lead to legal prosecution.

Previous Waiver Attempts Ruled Illegal

This is not the first attempt to scrap the dues. In December last year, Minister Khadka tried to correct NEA bills through a committee led by former NPC member Arbind Kumar Mishra, but the Supreme Court struck down that committee as illegal last March. Undeterred, Khadka recently set up a new “administrative review committee” headed by Shyam Kumar Yadav, whom he appointed himself to the NEA board. Yet NEA employees have refused to sit on the committee, calling it politically motivated and designed to vacate industrial liabilities.

At Sunday’s event, Khadka fumed at staff for refusing to serve on the review committee, even accusing them of hypocrisy. “If collecting the dues is not a sin, then checking whether the bill is correct should not be a sin either,” he said.

Experts Warn of Serious Governance Breakdown

Governance experts and transparency advocates have condemned the minister’s remarks as a dangerous attempt to intimidate the CIAA and manipulate regulatory bodies. By openly asserting that the anti-corruption body is one “we created,” Khadka is effectively signaling that political power is above the law. Critics argue this is a direct violation of constitutional principles and a blatant obstruction of justice.

The Rs 8 billion billing dispute has turned into a major test case for Nepal’s anti-corruption regime. If the dues are written off, it could set a precedent allowing politically connected industries to escape financial accountability under the excuse of technical disputes.

Transparency analysts warn this could severely damage public trust and promote a culture of impunity within strategic state-owned enterprises like NEA — potentially affecting international investors’ perception of Nepal’s regulatory environment.

CIAA Response Expected

The CIAA has reportedly intensified its investigation in response to Khadka’s remarks. Sources say officials are preparing to summon the minister or his aides if attempts to waive dues continue despite the watchdog’s instructions. CIAA insiders say they view the minister’s speech as an act of intimidation and a challenge to constitutional oversight mechanisms.

With political pressure building and internal staff resisting any waiver move, the NEA finds itself caught between a defiant minister and a vigilant corruption watchdog. The outcome could have far-reaching implications on how state utilities handle large industrial liabilities and whether anti-graft institutions can maintain their independence amid political interference.