KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Investigation Committee, established to investigate the cooperatives fraud case, started recording statements from involved individuals on Friday. The committee, led by CPN-UML lawmaker Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, includes members from multiple political parties: two from the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML each, and one from the CPN-Maoist Center, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

Committee member Sarita Bhushal reported that statements were taken from individuals linked to Gautam Shree Multipurpose Cooperatives, Laligurans Multipurpose Cooperatives, and Gorkha Saving Cooperatives. The committee had previously met at Singha Durbar to prepare for these sessions.

With a mandate to complete the investigation within three months, the committee has already finished evidence collection and preliminary processes. The current focus is on recording statements from individuals accused of being involved in the fraud, including those currently in prison.

The committee has also directed the Home Ministry to extradite 18 individuals who fled the country, ensuring that all suspects are accounted for in the investigation.