Kathmandu, June 5
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and others.
The CIAA filed the case in the Special Court, accusing irregularities in the Patanjali land exchange case.
According to the high level source at CIAA the case against Nepal, who is also the chairperson of the CPN (Unified Socialist), was registered a short while ago.
This is the first time in Nepal’s history that a corruption case has been filed against a former Prime Minister. Similarly, this is also the first time that a corruption case has been initiated based on a Cabinet decision.
Earlier, during the investigation into irregularities related to land belonging to Patanjali Yogpeeth, the CIAA had recorded a statement from Nepal.
The accusation
Patanjali Yogpeeth had purchased land under landholding exemption for herbal farming and the construction of an Ayurvedic hospital. After it was found that the land acquired under exemption through a Cabinet decision was later sold again through another Cabinet decision, the CIAA initiated an investigation.
According to the Land Act, 2021 B.S., the government can provide landholding exemptions for productive industries or businesses. However, such land acquired under exemption cannot be sold. Questions arose after the government itself granted permission to sell the land obtained under the exemption.
India’s Patanjali Yogpeeth had registered a company in 2007 to operate an Ayurvedic educational institute, hospital, and herbal farm in Kavre. When the required land could not be acquired within the holding limit, the company requested the government to allow them to hold land under exemption.
On February 1, 2010 the Cabinet led by Madhav Kumar Nepal granted Patanjali permission to purchase 815 ropani of land in Kavre. At that time, Patanjali purchased around 600 ropani of land. Some of the land had been bought even before that. Within a few months of the purchase, the company decided to sell the land.
Legally, land obtained under landholding exemption cannot be sold. If a company is dissolved, such land is automatically nationalized as per the law. However, the government in 2010 decided to allow the sale of the land.
