Nepal, June 16 -- A striking scene is unfolding in the archives of the Federal Parliament Secretariat and various ministries at Singha Durbar. Former prime ministers, ex-ministers, senior bureaucrats and policy experts-once involved in shaping state policies-are now seen flipping through dusty old files or seeking help from computer sections to retrieve decades-old records.

The unusual rush has been triggered by a demand from the "Asset Investigation and Inquiry Commission, 2026," formed under the leadership of former Supreme Court Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari. Those required to submit asset details are now struggling to trace the sources of their wealth, with many admitting that reconstructing financial histories has become a diffic...