Nepal ex-PM faces graft charge over land deal with Indian yoga guru's firm
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
India engaged with U.S. in more trade talks, Indian government source says
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/File Photo
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
Penang appoints 19 new Hindu Endowment Board commissioners
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government has appointed 19 new commissioners to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) for the 2025–2026 term, following the expiry of the previous term. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a statement today that the appointments are effective from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. He also announced that the executive councillor for housing and environment, Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, has been appointed to coordinate matters related to the PHEB on behalf of the state government. 'Heartfelt congratulations are extended, and it is hoped that the PHEB will continue to carry the mandate and empower the socio-economic development of the Indian community in the state,' he added. The PHEB is a statutory body under the Penang government and manages Hindu religious endowments including temples, burial grounds, and related assets. Established in 1906 under the Hindu Endowment Act during the colonial era, PHEB also plays a wider role in supporting education, welfare, and community development. Penang is the only state in Malaysia with such an institution to ensure the needs of the Hindu community are taken care of. Among those appointed as commissioners are Jelutong MP Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer and Senator Dr Lingeshwaran Arunasalam. Also appointed are Perai assemblyman Kumaran Krishnan and Batu Uban assemblyman Kumaresan Aramugam. Other appointees include Penang state MIC chairman Datuk Dhinagaran Jayabalan, Malaysian Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Penang president Datuk Parthiban Sanderasaggram, Datuk Sundraraj Thannimalay, and Datuk Hitendra Joshi. Women's representation on the board includes educationist Jagruti B. Upadhyaya and Dr Vishanthini Kanasan, who joins as an ex-officio member. Also appointed are Shanmuganathan Govinda Konal, Chandra Mohan Krishnan, Dinesh Varman Nagan, Datuk Kristnan@Krishnan Arumugam, V. Krishna Murthy Naidu, Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, Datuk Ashok Kumar Poduval, Datuk Harikrishnan N. Veerasamy, and Kumaran Velisamy.
The Star
14 hours ago
- The Star
Philippines' Marcos eyes India trade, defence in talks with Modi
MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (pic). will discuss trade and defense relations with India when he meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a state visit to the South Asian nation next week. "They are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern,' Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq said in a briefing on Friday (Aug 1). Marcos' trip to India is set on Aug. 4-8 upon Modi's invitation. "We recognise the economic and strategic potentials of India, and we hope to open up possibilities for the future,' Jimenez-Ducrocq said. Marcos' efforts to expand economic cooperation with India, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, come amid the implementation of US President Donald Trump's tariffs this month. The 19 per cent tariff imposed on Philippine goods is on par with many other South-East Asian nations, removing a trade advantage that Manila had touted when the US initially threatened a 17 per cent levy in April, which was among the lowest rates in the region that time. The US levy on India's goods is set at 25 per cent. Marcos' visit to India also comes at a time when the two nations - which face a similar security concern - are improving defence ties. Manila has a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea while New Delhi has a border row with China over the Himalayas. The Philippine and Indian navies are set to hold joint maritime exercises in waters facing the South China Sea from Sunday, Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters on Thursday evening. Brawner said Manila is looking at ordering more weapons systems and equipment from India. The Philippines previously procured a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India's BrahMos Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., a contract worth 18.9 billion pesos (US$324 million), as the nation boosts its coastal defense. "We still have two sets of BrahMos systems that will arrive in the next few years,' Brawner said, adding that other weapons systems of the Philippine Navy are also from India. "We found out that what's made in India are of high quality but not too costly. So it's good if we partner with India.' - Bloomberg
