#news #corruption #Nepal #government
Kathmandu – Following the release by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in the Lalita Niwas land scam case, former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal has been implicated in a corruption case related to the Patanjali land deal. The CIAA has filed a case against Nepal and 93 others, accusing them of corruption in the Patanjali land deal worth NPR 185.8 million. This marks the first instance of corruption charges being filed against a former Prime Minister and his Cabinet following a decision against them.
Patanjali, the company owned by Indian yoga guru Ramdev, had registered in Nepal in 2007. The company acquired 815 ropanis of land in Madhav Kurma in 2009, with approval from the then Nepali leadership. The land was intended for agriculture and the construction of an Ayurvedic hospital. However, the land was later illegally sold for housing purposes, which was deemed as unlawful. Despite this, the decision to sell the land was approved by the Cabinet in 2009.
Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, commented on the case saying, “The involvement of high-ranking officials in corrupt practices tarnishes the reputation of the government and erodes public trust. It is crucial for the authorities to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable those responsible for such misconduct.”
The land scandal also implicated Baburam Bhattarai, who, during his tenure as Prime Minister, allowed the land to be registered in the name of Pashupati Ghimire. The decision to transfer the land to Ghimire was found to be illegal. The CIAA had previously gathered statements from various individuals involved in the Lalita Niwas case, leading to convictions for some while others were found guilty of wrongdoing. The case remains ongoing, awaiting further legal proceedings.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: June 5, 2025 7:01 pm
