Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, also the chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), has recorded his statement in Special Court over allegations of financial irregularities in granting land concessions to the Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurveda Company.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case against Nepal on June 5, accusing him of misusing authority by approving excessive land allotments under the land ceiling exemption scheme during his tenure. The case involves a demand for Rs 180 million in damages.
Following Nepal’s statement, the court has begun hearings on whether to detain him during the trial. A team of senior advocates comprising Shambhu Thapa, Govinda Bandi, Lalit Basnet, and Chandra Kanta Gyawali, will argue against his detention. Meanwhile, the CIAA’s legal team, led by Senior Government Attorney Mohan Sagar Basyal along with former Attorney General Sushil Pant, will push for strict action.
The CIAA accuses Nepal’s cabinet of illegally granting Patanjali, a non-profit Ayurveda and yoga company, permission to purchase 815 ropanis of land in Kavrepalanchowk in 2010 for an Ayurvedic University, research center, and herbal farm. Investigations later revealed that 353 ropanis of this land was illegally sold to a private business entity, Kasthamandap Business Homes Pvt. Ltd., violating land ceiling laws.
Nepal’s land laws restrict individuals from holding more than 25 ropanis in Kathmandu, 11 bighas in Terai and 75 ropanis in hilly areas without special exemptions. The CIAA claims Nepal’s government bypassed these rules, allowing Patanjali to misuse the land for commercial purposes.
Patanjali, founded by Indian yoga guru Ramdev and Nepali-origin Acharya Balkrishna, entered Nepal as a non-profit but allegedly engaged in fraudulent land dealings. The company’s Nepali representatives are accused of exploiting legal loopholes for personal gain. If convicted, Nepal could face severe penalties, including asset forfeiture. The court’s final decision on his detention is expected soon.
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