KATHMANDU, Dec 15: The Special Court has summoned witnesses in a corruption case filed against former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in connection with alleged land irregularities involving Patanjali.
The court directed that prosecution witnesses be produced through the Office of the Special Government Attorney and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), while defence witnesses are to be presented by the defendant himself. Witnesses may record their statements either in person or via video conference.
Hearing on corruption case involving former PM Nepal today at S...
A division bench of Judges Narayan Prasad Paudel and Dilliratna Shrestha also ordered the production of the CIAA’s decision dated December 10, 2012, which had put the case on hold, citing the CIAA’s lack of authority to investigate cabinet decisions.
Despite shelving the case for years, the CIAA earlier this year filed a charge sheet against 93 individuals, including Nepal, alleging wrongdoing. According to the CIAA, a cabinet meeting on February 22, 2010 granted Patanjali approval to purchase 815 ropanis of land under a ceiling exemption.
Subsequently, on March 19, 2010, the cabinet allowed the company to sell the same land. The Indian company, which had registered in Nepal to establish an Ayurvedic hospital and cultivate medicinal plants, later sold the land for private use.
The CIAA then launched an investigation on suspicion of corruption and has claimed Rs 185.85 million in damages on behalf of the government. Following a preliminary hearing, the Special Court on June 25 ordered Nepal’s release on bail of Rs 3.5 million.
