CIAA demands recovery of Rs 185.85 million, along with prison sentences and fines
KATHMANDU, JUNE 5
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court in Kathmandu against 93 individuals, including former Prime Minister and sitting Member of Parliament Madhav Kumar Nepal, over allegations of public property misuse and corruption.
According to a CIAA, the case centers around Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurveda Company Nepal's acquisition of land in Mahendrajyoti, Sanga, Nasikashthan of Kavrepalanchok district. The anti-graft body claims allegedly purchased land beyond the legal ceiling set by the Land Act, 2021 (1964), and engaged in transactions where land was bought at low prices and sold at significantly higher values. Of the total land acquired, 314 ropanis were allegedly sold to Manu Ghimire and seven others for private use, following a Cabinet decision dated, the CIAA alleges.
The Cabinet had earlier approved a land ceiling exemption for Patanjali on February 1, 2010, permitting the purchase of 815 ropanis in Kavre. Following this, the company acquired over 594 ropanis, of which more than 353 ropanis were sold within three months.
The CIAA investigation alleges that Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal, now registered as a non-profit company, was involved in acquiring land beyond the legally permitted ceiling in multiple locations across Nepal, contrary to Sections 7 and 8 of the Land Act. Furthermore, land registration under the company's name was found to violate Section 10 of the same Act, and the excess land is subject to confiscation and reversion to the state under Section 11.
The CIAA also reportedly found evidence of collusion among the company's key founding member Shaligram Singh and several officials from various government bodies, including the Land Revenue Office, Guthi Corporation, Sunrise Bank, Department and Ministry of Land Management, and senior public office bearers such as secretaries, ministers, members of the bill committee, and Cabinet members - including then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The charge sheet names former ministers, secretaries, senior bureaucrats, and land revenue officials. Among them are former Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, late Land Reform Minister Dambar Shrestha (with his son Santosh named as a defendant for recovery), and former Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire (his wife Kamala Ghimire is named for recovery).
Others charged include senior officials from the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Department of Land Reform and Management, Land Revenue Office Kavrepalanchok, and Guthi Sansthan. The list includes former secretaries, joint secretaries, undersecretaries, land revenue officers, section officers, and assistants.
The accused, charged under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 (2002), are alleged to have abused their official positions to make or influence decisions regarding the land beyond the permissible limit, benefiting themselves and causing loss to public property. The charges detail systemic abuse, from local offices to the Council of Ministers, aimed at facilitating illegal land transactions and protecting private interests.
The commission has demanded recovery of Rs 185.85 million from the accused, along with prison sentences and fines under Section 3(1)(j) and other relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059 (2002).
Additional charges under Sections 24, 46, and 47 of the Act have been invoked to ensure the confiscation of illegal gains, recovery from successors of deceased accused, and imposition of supplementary penalties.
Following the filing of the corruption case, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's parliamentary position has been automatically suspended. As per Section 33 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, any public servant charged with corruption is automatically suspended until the case is fully resolved.
Read Also: Former PM Nepal's parliamentary position suspended following CIAA corruption case
This high-profile case marks a significant expansion of the CIAA's investigation into politically linked land scams, further intensifying scrutiny on the misuse of public resources and state authority.
