Pokhara, 6 June — The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a massive 632-page corruption case against 93 individuals, including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, at the Special Court. The charges stem from alleged illegal land purchases across multiple districts in Nepal, facilitated through political and bureaucratic influence. However, two key Indian nationals believed to be central figures in the case—Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna—have been notably excluded from the list of defendants.
Despite their prominent roles as the patron and chairman of Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal, respectively, neither Ramdev nor Balkrishna has been named as defendants. This omission has raised questions, particularly since Shaligram Singh, the only Nepali member among the five-person board of the registered company, is the sole representative being charged.
Records from the Office of the Company Registrar show that the Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurved Company Nepal was registered on 20 Asoj 2064 (October 6, 2007), with registration number 84/064/065 and PAN 302752795. Swami Ramdev is listed as the company’s patron with an address in Haridwar, India, while Acharya Balkrishna is named as chairman. Other Indian members include Mahant Rajendra Das and Rajendra Singh. Among these, only Shaligram Singh holds Nepali citizenship.
Legal experts are questioning why individuals officially registered with Nepali authorities are allowed to influence government decisions and acquire vast land holdings but are not held accountable when legal issues arise. The company, under the guise of promoting Ayurvedic production and child education, submitted applications to the Ministry of Land Reform to purchase land exceeding legal limits across ten districts.
Government records reveal that Patanjali-affiliated entities have acquired extensive land assets through Council of Ministers’ decisions in districts such as Dang (75 bighas), Lamjung (300 ropanis), Syangja (250 ropanis), Kavrepalanchok (815 ropanis), Chitwan (15 bighas), Dhanusha (25 bighas), the Kathmandu Valley (150 ropanis), and Bara and Parsa (40 bighas). The CIAA’s current case, however, focuses only on the land transactions in Kavrepalanchok, involving 160 plots across several areas.
The selective prosecution and exclusion of foreign nationals deeply involved in land transactions have triggered concern among observers and legal professionals, who argue that nationality should not exempt individuals from corruption charges, especially when they are officially tied to companies registered in Nepal and alleged to have played major roles in questionable dealings.
