By Rabi Raj Thapa

It has taken weeks and months to appoint a Governor of the Central Bank of Nepal. What could be the hidden agenda between Oli and Deuba for their months-long dog-fights?What can be the reason to wrestle for a particular individual rather than follow past tradition and precedence? There can be nothing else than to protect their financial interests, benefits and wealth acquired through white-collar crimes.  

Today, Nepal has become a real victim of White Collar Organized crimes. And the problem is – very few Nepalis have that deep understanding of white collar crime nexus as compared to day-to-day common normal petty street crimes.  

Today, the whole of Nepal has become the victim of organized and White-Collar crimes that are complex, financially motivated and nonviolent. The problem with these crimes are committed inside big corporate offices, and government offices; by individuals, businesses, or government professionals. As they all commit crimes for money, the governor of the central bank obviously becomes the most important and pivotal for all their business and enterprises.

One may wonder; what are the prerequisites and qualifications both Oli and Deuba looking for when appointing a new Governor? Are they really looking for a Governor of the Central Bank or a CEO of their liking and a stooge who can protect their white collar criminal enterprises?

Everybody knows every white collar crime’s primary goal is to obtain money, assets, or other financial benefits. For three decades, Nepal has been growing cancerous types of white collar crime proliferating day by day. It has already impacted all social, political and economic stakeholders. Every year new cases of fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, money laundering, bribery, and tax evasion are increasing in an alarming proportion. The country is also suffering from irreparable financial losses, damaging the national image, reputation and credibility worldwide.    

Nepal is increasingly becoming a crime hub of white collar and financial crimes, it is inviting and welcoming money and investment irrespective of black or white money. There is a loud and clear evidence produced by the Transparency International, International Organized Crime Report and Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force 2025. Despite all these, white collar criminals proudly and confidently roam around the cities in suits and ties, drive the most expensive limousines, and wine and dine in big hotels with the most powerful politicians, and government executives without any shame or hesitation. They don’t care about the damaged national economy, Nepal’s international image and credibility.

Unfortunately, white-collar-criminals have now become the king-maker in the government, government-owned corporations today. They all have their stake in the nomination of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nepal. This is a sad and tragic truth. That is why they are fighting tooth and nail to appoint their stooge as the governor.

The bitter truth is: that these white-collar-criminals are neither poor nor socially disadvantaged and have enormous social leverage to support a person of their liking. Today, the financial cost of white-collar crime in Nepal has far exceeded compared to that of street crimes. Unfortunately, there is also a big gap between everyday material covered by popular news and other media on the dire and overwhelmingly harmful consequences of the “invisible” white collar criminality.

Today, Nepali people need to have a better understanding of non-traditional crimes like white collar crimes, the ways and means, impacts of white-collar crime victimizations, and the need for more effective public policy about white-collar offences.

Today, Nepal needs a dynamic governor who can rescue and redeem from its economic crisis, and maladies and manage financial crises. Nepal’s Central Bank Governor should not be a stooge of partisan politics, nepotism, red-tapes, bribery, matrimonial, family relationships or any of those things.