Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Faces Corruption Charges: Political Circles Stirred

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN Unified Socialist Party, Madhav Kumar Nepal. The commission has set a liability of NPR 185.85 million and filed the case at the Special Court on Thursday.

CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel confirmed that the file has been submitted to the Special Court. "The corruption case file has reached the Special Court," he stated. A formal press release will be issued shortly.

The case revolves around the illegal purchase and sale of land under the name of Patanjali. The land was purchased under a special exemption for land plots, and within two months, it was unlawfully sold to a housing company. The case has named 93 individuals, including then-Prime Minister Nepal.

In 2009, when Madhav Kumar Nepal was Prime Minister, the Cabinet made a decision to grant permission for purchasing land under a special exemption. However, following complaints of land sales that violated the legal boundaries, the CIAA began its investigation.

This is the first time in Nepal's history that a former Prime Minister has faced a corruption case. It is also the first time that a Cabinet decision has been challenged under a corruption case.

With the filing of the corruption case by the CIAA, the position of Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is a Member of Parliament from the CPN Unified Socialist Party, has been suspended.