For the first time in Nepal’s recent political history, a corruption case has been filed against a former prime minister. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), an anti-graft body, has filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in a land purchase case.
In 2010, when Nepal was the prime minister, a cabinet led by him had approved the purchase of land under the land ceiling exemption. However, the CIAA initiated an investigation after it was found that land exceeding the ceiling was sold, violating the law. On February 1, 2010, the Nepal-led Cabinet approved the purchase of 815 ropani (1 ropani equals 0.0509 hectares) of land in Banepa, Kavre, under the ceiling exemption for purposes including yoga centers, Ayurvedic institutes, and the herbal industry. The same Cabinet meeting also approved the purchase of land under ceiling exemption—75 bighas (1 bigha equals 0.677 hectares) in Dang, 300 ropanis in Lamjung, 250 ropanis in Syangja, 15 bighas in Chitwan, 25 bighas in Dhanusha, 150 ropanis in the Kathmandu Valley, and 40 bighas in the Bara-Parsa area—within five years.
Along with Nepal, corruption cases have been filed against 93 government officials involved in the case. Former PM Nepal’s party, CPN (Unified Socialist), has reacted furiously, stating that it is a politically motivated decision. The party’s senior leader Rajendra Pandey said: The corruption case has been filed following the instruction from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.” Oli and Nepal were in the same party, CPN (UML), before 2021.
