KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Thursday filed a corruption case at the Special Court against UCPN-Maoist lawmaker Lharkyal Lama.

The Commission has accused Lama of embezzling the state property worth Rs 94.47 million while assuming various positions including chairman of the Monastery Development Committee, lawmaker and state minister.

The Commission had investigated into property details of Lama, a permanent resident of Helambu-6 in Sindhupalchok district, from fiscal year 2001/2 to 2015/16.

The anti-corruption constitutional body said it found that his expenditure in last 15 years did not match with his earning, with a difference of the mentioned amount.

During the investigation, the controversial monk had failed to show sources of his earning for the mentioned amount.

Earlier, in March, the Commission had found bullets in his bank locker while it was investigating into his involvement in embezzlement.

Then, he was detained for some days and later released on bail.

He had also faced foreign employment fraud charges.

Controversial history

Lama was picked by the Jhala Nath Khanal-led government as the State Minister for Finance, but following hullabaloo over his alleged multiple passports and citizenships, he resigned on April 22, 2011.

Lama had reportedly possessed passports and citizenships under four different names — Lharkyal Lama, Larkel Sherpa, Wangchuwk Rimpoche and Chhimpo Chime Tshering along with a Tibetan identity card from Nepal and India.

On July 6, the probe committee formed by the government gave him clean chit regarding the controversy over his passport.

Later on October 22, 2013, Lama joined Unified CPN-Maoist.

Lama took oath of office and secrecy as the Constituent Assembly member from the UCPN-Maoist on February 16, 2015.