Lharkyal Lama released after posting Rs 10 mln bail

KATHMANDU: Suspended Maoist lawmaker Lharkyal Lama has been released on a bail of Rs 10 million after a Special Court verdict today.*

Earlier, hearing a case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority against him today, a bench of judges Mohan Raman Bhattarai, Bhupendra Prasad Rai and Prabha Basnet had ordered the controversial monk to post the bail.

The CIAA had 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 anti-graft body had looked into the property details of Lama, a permanent resident of Helambu-6 in Sindhupalchok district, from fiscal year 2001/2 to 2015/16.

According to the CIAA, it found that his expenditure in last 15 years did not match with his earnings.

The case was filed against him on May 12.

He was suspended from the lawmaker's position the next day.

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 the then Unified CPN-Maoist.

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

*Updated