Kathmandu, May 2 -- The government has expanded the mandate of a high-level probe commission to investigate not only the domestic assets of senior politicians and bureaucrats who have been in office since 2006-07, but also the wealth they may have stashed abroad, bringing into focus those accused of siphoning off illicit gains through abuse of public office.

However, even as the move signals a tougher anti-corruption stance, tracing offshore assets and bringing those involved under scrutiny remain complex legal and diplomatic challenges.

Over the years, several individuals who have fled Nepal to different places after committing crimes. Although efforts have been made in the past to issue Interpol red notices and trace such individuals,...