Ex-PM Madhav Nepal charged in land misappropriation case

    Kathmandu, Jun 5 (PTI) Former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is also chairman of the CPN-Unified Socialist, was on Thursday charged by Nepal's anti-graft agency in a land misappropriation case linked to Patanjali Yogpeeth.
    The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case at a special court against Madhav Nepal and 92 others for their alleged involvement in the Patanjali land deal case.
    The CIAA alleged that Patanjali Yogpeeth, an Indian conglomerate, had purchased land in Kavrepalanchok district under land ceiling exemption. However, the land, acquired under government concession, was sold off with Cabinet-level approval.
    In a statement, Patanjali said it had purchased the land through due process as per the laws of Nepal.
    "Patanjali has not acquired any government land. It is unfair to drag our name into local political vendetta proceedings," it said.
    It added that Patanjali is engaged in health services, social harmony, cultural upliftment and other social activities in Nepal through its more than 50,000 dedicated workers.
    Madhav Nepal, the sitting member of parliament, lost his parliamentary position automatically after the filing of the chargesheet.
    Talking to the media in his home district Rautahat, Madhav Nepal denied the corruption allegations against him, saying he has done nothing wrong and is prepared to face the legal process.
    He alleged that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli wanted to end his political career by filing the case.
    “I have not done anything wrong, nor do I wish to encourage any wrongdoing,” Madhav Nepal said.
    “There is nothing greater than justice and nothing greater than the truth,” said Madhav Nepal, who served as prime minister from May 2009 to February 2011.
    As per Nepal's law, all public servants charged with corruption are automatically suspended until the case is resolved.
    The CIAA has sued 93 individuals, including ex-law minister Prem Bahadur Singh, ex-land reform minister Dambar Shrestha and former chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire.
    The agency has also demanded the recovery of Nepalese Rs 185.85 million from the accused along with prison sentences and fines under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (2002).
    This is probably the first time in Nepal that the graft body filed a case against any former prime minister.
    During Madhav Nepal's government in 2010, the Cabinet approved the purchase of land under the land ceiling exemption. The CIAA said that land exceeding the ceiling was sold, violating the law.
    The CPN (Unified Socialist) condemned the corruption charges filed against its chairman, terming the move a "politically motivated" act of revenge and conspiracy.
    “We will respond to this politically and legally, and present factual evidence to refute these claims,” party vice-chair Prakash Jwala was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post newspaper.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)