A corruption case has been filed against former prime minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal in connection with the misappropriation of land belonging to Patanjali Yog Peeth and Ayurveda Company.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed the corruption case against Nepal at the Special Court on Thursday.
The anti-corruption body has sought Rs 185.85 million in damages from Nepal, according to the court’s information officer Yagya Raj Regmi. It has also sought a prison sentence of 10 to 14 years for Nepal.
The CIAA had previously recorded the statements of Nepal and others, alleging the illegal sale and purchase of land registered under the name of Patanjali Yog Peeth and Ayurveda Company in Kavre, which was exempted from land ceiling limits.
In 2010, when Madhav Nepal was prime minister, the Cabinet had approved the purchase of land under the land ceiling exemption. However, the CIAA initiated an investigation after it was found that land exceeding the ceiling was sold, violating the law.
Besides Nepal, the CIAA has also filed charges against 92 others, including former law minister Prem Bahadur Singh, and then-land reform secretary Chhabi Raj Panta.
Following the filing of the corruption case by the CIAA, Nepal’s position as lawmaker has been suspended.
