Banking Khabar / Home Minister Sudan Gurung has denied allegations that he failed to disclose share investments worth Rs 2.5 million in his asset declaration, stating that all his stock holdings—valued at over Rs 20 million—are fully declared and publicly available on the Council of Ministers’ website.
He said the controversy stems from a misunderstanding about how shares are categorized. According to Gurung, his investments in Star Micro Insurance and Liberty Micro Life are listed under the same category as his other stock holdings and were not left out.
“Anyone trying to hide assets would not openly declare investments exceeding Rs 20 million,” he said.
On the source of the funds, Gurung explained that the investments were made through a loan supported by a written agreement dated September 15, 2023. He added that all transactions were carried out through formal banking channels and can be easily traced.
Responding to concerns about a possible conflict of interest, Gurung said that owning shares in the same company as other individuals does not mean he has a direct association with them. He noted that companies can have hundreds or even thousands of shareholders, including banks and media organizations.
He also clarified that such conflict-of-interest issues fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under the Finance Ministry not the Home Ministry. He said the ongoing independent investigation shows he has not interfered in the process.
Gurung acknowledged that investment decisions can carry unforeseen risks and said it is unfair to judge past actions based on later developments. He added that he avoided making immediate public comments due to the legal sensitivity of the issue, emphasizing that while rumours spread quickly, the truth must be backed by evidence.
He said he is ready to accept any decision taken by his party and will fully cooperate with the investigation.
