KATHMANDU, June 2: A corruption case has been filed against former Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Dirgha Bahadur Sodari, over alleged illegal accumulation of wealth.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Monday lodged the case at the Special Court, claiming Sodari amassed property worth Rs 10.9 million but couldn’t reveal the source.
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According to the CIAA, between January 24, 2018, and February 23, 2023, when Sodari held public office, he and his family declared an income of Rs 8.5 million. However, their expenditure including land purchases, house construction and interior decoration, daughter’s education, investments in Bobby Masala Industry, insurance premiums, son’s wedding, share investments, and cash holdings in financial institutions amounted to nearly Rs 19.4 million.
CIAA has declared Rs 10.8 million of his assets illegal due to the lack of verified income sources. Sodari’s wife and son have also been named as defendants in the case as the Commission seeks confiscation of the assets.
Sodari, a member of the CPN (Unified Socialist), served as Sudurpaschim’s Chief Minister from April 18, 2024. He had previously held the post of Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development in the province.
