KATHMANDU, June 5: In an unprecedented move, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and 92 others over a controversial land swap deal involving Patanjali Yogpeeth.
The case, registered at the Special Court on Wednesday, marks the first time in Nepal’s history that a former prime minister has been indicted by the CIAA for corruption. The CIAA has demanded Rs 185.85 million in compensation from Nepal, accusing him of misusing his authority to exempt land from the legally mandated ceiling, thereby enabling illegal transactions and causing substantial loss to the state.
The case stems from a land deal in Kavrepalanchok district, where public land was allegedly misappropriated under the pretext of allocating land for Patanjali Yogpeeth and its affiliate, Ayurveda Company Nepal. The CIAA’s investigation concluded that land exceeding the legal holding limit was exchanged and transferred unlawfully, violating land reform laws.
The corruption case includes several prominent figures from Nepal’s political and bureaucratic landscape. Among those indicted is Prem Bahadur Singh, who served as Law Minister and Dambar Bahadur Shrestha, a former minister who has since passed away—his son Santosh Shrestha has been named in his stead. Also included is Kamala Ghimire, the wife of the late Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Chhabiraj Pant, the former Secretary of Land Reform.
The list further includes senior civil servants such as former joint secretaries Jit Bahadur Thapa and Lalamani Joshi, as well as former under secretaries Kalanidhi Poudel, Gandhi Prasad Subedi and Bhupendra Mani KC. Keshar Bahadur Baniya, who formerly served as Director General and former under secretary Rajaram Thapa have also been charged. Among those facing corruption cases also include Krishnahari Bhattarai, the then acting chief of the Guthi Sansthan Kavre, along with senior assistant Pawan Acharya and section officer Madhav Prasad Humagain.
A number of lower-ranking officials and administrative staff have been indicted as well. These include former section officer Sitaram Pokharel; land revenue officialsPrem Bahadur Deshar, Kedarnath Bhattarai, Janardan Guragain, Mohanram Sharma, Bed Prasad Aryal, and Shivhari Sharma Subedi and Binod Koirala, a non-gazetted first class employee.
The CIAA has also brought charges against Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal and Ayurveda Company Nepal, along with their founding members. Those named include Shaligram Singh, Bhojraj Sharma Wagle, Jeevanraj Kandel, Dhruvaraj Thapa, Manu Ghimire, Om Prakash Bansh, Bhim Dutta Joshi, Birendra Lal Shrestha, and Laxman Karki.
Additionally, officials from Sunrise Bank have come under scrutiny for their alleged involvement in facilitating or failing to prevent irregularities in the financial transactions related to the land swap. Those indicted include junior management trainee Yeshu Mainali, deputy manager Manoj Neupane, senior assistant Bikrant Koirala, chief manager Rabin Kumar Nepal, assistant general manager Asha Rana Adhikari, head of risk management Sanjay Kumar Siddhi, compliance officer Sunil Ratna Sthapit and deputy general manager Balram Bista.
This case is particularly significant in Nepal’s political history. Until now, the CIAA has largely been criticised for only targeting mid- and lower-level bureaucrats. The decision to prosecute a former head of government represents a major shift and has sparked both praise and controversy. The CPN (Unified Socialist) Party, led by Madhav Nepal, has alleged that the case was filed under political pressure from CPN-UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
With the case now formally in court, public attention is focused not only on the legal proceedings but also on the broader implications for anti-corruption efforts and political accountability in Nepal. Whether this marks a genuine turning point in governance or a politically motivated prosecution remains to be seen.
Nepal denies corruption charges, calls them politically motivated
KATHMANDU, June 5: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of the CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has strongly denied the corruption charges filed against him by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), describing them as politically motivated and retaliatory.
In his first public response since the CIAA filed the case at the Special Court, Nepal asserted that he has done nothing wrong and is fully prepared to face the legal process.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in his home district, Rautahat Constituency-1, Nepal alleged that the case was part of a long-running conspiracy aimed at destroying his political career. “This move was orchestrated from the beginning,” he claimed. “The intention is clear—to silence me and end my role in national politics.”
Reaffirming his stance on integrity, Nepal said he has always upheld the principle of "neither bowing nor fearing." He stressed that he has never engaged in or endorsed any unlawful actions. “I have not committed any wrongdoing, nor do I support or encourage such actions,” he said. “There is nothing more powerful than justice, and nothing more enduring than the truth.”