Latest news with #CommissionfortheInvestigationofAbuseofAuthority
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nepal ex-PM faces graft charge over land deal with Baba Ramdev
Authorities in Nepal have charged former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal with corruption and demanded a million-dollar fine over the purchase of land by a firm owned by Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev, a court official said on Friday (June 6, 2025). Nepal's Prime Minister between 2009 and 2011 faces charges of allowing Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal company to purchase more land than it was legally allowed to own for herb production, processing and a hospital in the Himalayan nation 15 years ago. Both Nepal and Patanjali Yogpeeth deny any wrongdoing. The 72-year-old Nepalese heads a small opposition group in parliament, and his United Socialist Party says the prosecution is an act of 'political vendetta' against him. 'I have not done anything illegal nor indulged in any corruption concerning the Patanjali land deal causing any loss to the state,' Nepal told the Kantipur daily newspaper. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), a corruption watchdog, alleged that some of the land in Kavre district, was later allowed to be swapped with other land, or sold at a higher price, causing a loss to the state. The allegations were set out in a charge sheet filed by the commission on Thursday (June 5, 2025) at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The commission demanded that Nepal be ordered to pay a fine of 185.85 million Nepali rupees ($1.35 million). If found guilty, he could also be sentenced to up to 17 years in jail. A spokesperson for Patanjali in India denied any wrongdoing, saying it bought the land privately through due legal process. 'Patanjali has not acquired any government land. It is unfair to drag our name into local political vendetta actions and proceedings,' S.K. Tijarawala, Patanjali's spokesperson, told Reuters in a text message. The commission also charged 92 others, including some former Ministers and officials, some of whom are already dead. Yaga Raj Regmi, information officer of the court, said Nepal would receive a formal court notice giving him 15 days in which to present himself at court and the hearing would start after that.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Nepal ex-PM faces graft charge over land deal with Indian yoga guru's firm
KATHMANDU: Authorities in Nepal have charged former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal with corruption and demanded a million-dollar fine over the purchase of land by a firm owned by Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev, a court official said on Friday. Nepal, prime minister between 2009 and 2011, faces charges of allowing Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal company to purchase more land than it was legally allowed to own for herb production, processing and a hospital in the Himalayan nation 15 years ago. Both Nepal and Patanjali Yogpeeth deny any wrongdoing. The 72-year-old Nepal heads a small opposition group in parliament and his United Socialist Party says the prosecution is an act of 'political vendetta' against him. 'I have not done anything illegal nor indulged in any corruption concerning Patanjali land deal causing any loss to the state,' Nepal told the Kantipur daily newspaper. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), a corruption watchdog, alleged that some of the land, in Kavre district, was later allowed to be swapped with other land, or sold at a higher price, causing a loss to the state. The allegations were set out in a charge sheet filed by the commission on Thursday at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The commission demanded Nepal be ordered to pay a fine of 185.85 million Nepali rupees ($1.35 million). If found guilty he could also be sentenced to up to 17 years in jail. A spokesperson for Patanjali in India denied any wrongdoing, saying it bought the land privately through due legal process. 'Patanjali has not acquired any government land. It is unfair to drag our name in local political vendetta actions and proceedings,' S K Tijarawala, Patanjali's spokesperson, told Reuters in a text message. The commission also charged 92 others, including some former ministers and officials, some of whom are already dead. Yaga Raj Regmi, information officer of the court, said Nepal would receive a formal court notice giving him 15 days in which to present himself at court and the hearing would start after that.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Nepal ex-PM charged in Patanjali land corruption case
KATHMANDU: Authorities in Nepal have charged former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal with corruption and demanded a million-dollar fine over the purchase of land by a firm owned by Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev, a court official said on Friday. Nepal, prime minister between 2009 and 2011, faces charges of allowing Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal company to purchase more land than it was legally allowed to own for herb production, processing and a hospital in the Himalayan nation 15 years ago. Both Nepal and Patanjali Yogpeeth deny any wrongdoing. The 72-year-old Nepal heads a small opposition group in parliament and his United Socialist Party says the prosecution is an act of 'political vendetta' against him. 'I have not done anything illegal nor indulged in any corruption concerning Patanjali land deal causing any loss to the state,' Nepal told the Kantipur daily newspaper. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), a corruption watchdog, alleged that some of the land, in Kavre district, was later allowed to be swapped with other land, or sold at a higher price, causing a loss to the state. The allegations were set out in a charge sheet filed by the commission on Thursday at the Special Court in Kathmandu. The commission demanded Nepal be ordered to pay a fine of 185.85 million Nepali rupees ($1.35 million). If found guilty he could also be sentenced to up to 17 years in jail. A spokesperson for Patanjali in India denied any wrongdoing, saying it bought the land privately through due legal process. 'Patanjali has not acquired any government land. It is unfair to drag our name in local political vendetta actions and proceedings,' S K Tijarawala, Patanjali's spokesperson, told Reuters in a text message. The commission also charged 92 others, including some former ministers and officials, some of whom are already dead. Yaga Raj Regmi, information officer of the court, said Nepal would receive a formal court notice giving him 15 days in which to present himself at court and the hearing would start after that.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Ex-PM Madhav Nepal charged in land misappropriation case
According to the CIAA, the accused were involved in facilitating approval of land ceiling exemptions for a non-profit organisation in 2010, the paper said. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed a case at a special court against Madhav Nepal and 92 others for their alleged involvement in the land misappropriation case, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. Kathmandu, Jun 5 (PTI) Nepal's former prime minister and CPN-Unified Socialist chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal has been charged in a land misappropriation case by the anti-graft agency, media reports said on Thursday. The non-profit in question was involved in acquiring land beyond the legally permitted ceiling in multiple locations across Nepal. 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). Madhav Nepal on Thursday denied the corruption allegations against him, saying he has done nothing wrong and is prepared to face the legal process. 'I have not done anything wrong, nor do I wish to encourage any wrongdoing,' he was quoted as saying by My Republica newspaper. '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. He alleged that there was a conspiracy against him and that the case was filed with the intent to end his political career. The charge sheet also names former Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, late Land Reform Minister Dambar Shrestha and former Chief Secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire. Madhav Nepal, the sitting member of parliament, lost his parliamentary position automatically after the filing of the chargesheet. As per Nepal's law, all public servants charged with corruption are automatically suspended until the case is fully resolved. PTI RD ZH RD RD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
