Kathmandu, — Bhaktapur’s Suryabinayak Municipality Mayor Basudev Thapa will not be suspended from his position despite being named in a corruption case related to the controversial Patanjali land scam, which also implicates former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed charges against Nepal—who is also the Chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist)—along with 92 others just yesterday.
Former PM Madhav Nepal Automatically Suspended from Parliament Post
According to Nepalese law, any individual holding public office is automatically suspended once a corruption case is formally registered in court. Consequently, former Prime Minister Nepal’s position as a Member of Parliament has been automatically suspended.
CIAA Clarifies Thapa Named Solely for Land Confiscation, Not Corruption
Mayor Thapa, on the other hand, had purchased land that had been exempted from land ceiling laws. The CIAA has confirmed that he was made a defendant solely for the purpose of land confiscation proceedings. As such, he will not face suspension from his mayoral duties, clarified CIAA Assistant Spokesperson and Undersecretary Deviprasad Thapaliya in a statement to Nepal Press.
Similar Precedent: Justice Regmi Also Named Only for Land Seizure
This situation is not unprecedented. In the Lalita Niwas land scam, Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi was also named as a defendant only for the purpose of land seizure and not held personally liable for corruption.
Mayor Thapa Denies Knowledge of Patanjali Link in Land Purchase
In his earlier testimony to the CIAA, Mayor Thapa stated that he had purchased plot number 552 in former Sanga VDC-4(b) from Dilliraj Barailee for a total of NPR 130.66 million. Thapa claimed he was unaware that the land was linked to the Patanjali Group and emphasized that he had followed all legal procedures, including verification from the ward office and land revenue office, before making the purchase.
Thirty Defendants Named Solely for Land Seizure; Others Face Full Charges
Alongside Mayor Thapa, 28 individuals and two companies have been named as defendants solely for land confiscation purposes. The remaining 63 individuals have been charged with financial damage to the state, with demands for imprisonment and monetary fines.
Opposition Demands Independent Probe Before Ending House Deadlock
Meanwhile, political tensions have spilled into the Federal Parliament. Leader of the opposition and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said on Thursday that opposition parties would agree to resume the stalled House proceedings only if the government commits to a credible investigation into the land scam.
Prachanda Seeks Government’s Commitment on Neutral Investigation
Speaking to journalists outside the Parliament building after the House meeting was adjourned again, Dahal said the opposition coalition has also decided to approach Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to determine the government’s stance on the issue.
CIAA Criticized for Inconsistent Approach Between Similar Land Scandals
“There’s still no consensus with the ruling coalition on whether to form a parliamentary investigation committee or a judicial inquiry led by a former justice,” said Dahal. He also expressed surprise that charges were being brought against former PM Nepal.
“I believe the court will deliver justice to Madhav Nepal,” Dahal said, adding, “It’s surprising how the CIAA has taken inconsistent stances in the Lalita Niwas and Patanjali land cases—even though both involve policy-level decisions.”
