The CPN (Unified Socialist) has said that the corruption case against its Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal was filed under the direction of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
On Thursday, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Nepal and 92 others in connection with the misappropriation of land belonging to Patanjali Yog Peeth and Ayurveda Company in Kavre.
The anti-corruption body has sought recovery of Rs 185.85 million in damages from Nepal.
The CIAA had previously recorded Nepal’s statement in connection with the scam.
Following the filing of the corruption case, Nepal’s position as a lawmaker has been automatically suspended.
Senior Vice-chairman of the Unified Socialist, Rajendra Pandey, remarked that the case against Nepal was filed under the direct instruction of the prime minister.
"The CIAA had kept this matter on hold for a long time," he said. “Now, it is clear that this case has been moved forward directly under the prime minister’s instructions.”
When Madhav Kumar Nepal was prime minister in 2010, the Cabinet had approved the purchase of land for Patanjali under the land ceiling exemption.
"On February 1, 2010, the Cabinet had decided to allow Patanjali to purchase the land, and on March 19, 2010, the Cabinet had decided to also allow sale of the land," Pandey said. "It was a non-profit company. It was said that an Ayurvedic college and hospital would be established on 333 ropanis of land."
However, the company did not build a college or hospital on the land. Instead, it sought the Cabinet’s approval to sell the land.
When Nepal was prime minister, the company proposed selling 333 ropanis of land for Rs 42.25 million, stating it had purchased some other plot of land in exchange and also made a formal pledge to purchase the rest. The Cabinet approved the sale.
Pandey also noted that at the time, the CIAA had said that no further action was needed.
