KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Ex-PM Madhav Kumar Nepal faces corruption charges, Rs 185 million claimed
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, seeking a recovery of over Rs 185.85 million.
According to CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel, the case was registered at the Special Court on Thursday under multiple sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002.
The commission has demanded imprisonment, equivalent fines, and recovery of the embezzled amount in accordance with Sections 3, 17, and 24 of the Act.
CIAA notifies parliament on corruption case against Madhav Kumar Nepal, automatic suspension follows
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has officially filed a corruption case against former Prime Minister and current Chair of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal, along with 92 others, in relation to alleged irregularities in land acquisition for Patanjali Ayurved in Kavre.
A formal letter from the CIAA notifying the case has reached the Parliament Secretariat, according to Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s press advisor Shekhar Adhikari.
Madhav Nepal, who was elected to the House of Representatives from Rautahat-3, is now automatically suspended from his parliamentary role as per legal provisions.
Madhav Nepal alleges political conspiracy behind corruption case, points finger at PM Oli
Former Prime Minister and chair of CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has claimed that the recent corruption case filed against him is a politically motivated conspiracy, orchestrated under the direction of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case against Nepal at the Special Court over alleged irregularities related to land transactions involving Patanjali Yogpeeth in Kavrepalanchok. In response, Nepal alleged that the move is an attempt to politically finish him off.
“Oli has been against me from the very beginning. His intention has always been to eliminate me politically,” said Nepal, adding, “He’s driven by a sense of revenge. Similar attempts have come from him before.”
Unified Socialist defends Madhav Nepal: ‘He is clean, case politically motivated’
The CPN (Unified Socialist) has strongly defended party chair Madhav Kumar Nepal in the wake of a corruption case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) related to illegal land transactions by Patanjali in Kavrepalanchok district.
Following a high-level discussion at the party’s central office in Aloknagar, leaders concluded that Nepal committed no wrongdoing during his tenure as prime minister and labelled the charges as politically driven.
Party spokesperson Prakash Jwala stated, “Madhav Nepal has never been involved in any act of corruption. His image is spotless. This case has been filed with prejudice and vengeance.”
Patanjali land scam: CIAA spares Ramdev and Balkrishna despite alleged central role
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a major corruption case against 93 individuals, including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, at the Special Court on Thursday. However, the CIAA has come under fire for excluding Indian nationals Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, despite their alleged central involvement in a wide-reaching land scam tied to Patanjali Yogpeeth Nepal.
According to the 632-page charge sheet, large-scale illegal land transactions took place in 10 districts across Nepal under the guise of promoting herbal medicine and education. The company behind the transactions, Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurveda Company Nepal, is officially registered in Nepal, but four of its five directors are Indian citizens.
While Shaligram Singh, the only Nepali director, has been named as a defendant, Ramdev (patron) and Balkrishna (chairperson) have not been included in the case. This omission has raised eyebrows, as both are listed as top decision-makers in official company records, and their names appear prominently in the alleged corruption network.
Opposition disruption continues in Parliament; next session scheduled for Friday
The House of Representatives failed to proceed on Thursday as opposition lawmakers continued their protest and sloganeering, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the ongoing visit visa scandal.
Despite the meeting being rescheduled from 1 PM to 5:30 PM, the session was once again stalled. Speaker Devraj Ghimire eventually called off the sitting, removing all scheduled items from the agenda, and announced that the House will reconvene at 1 PM on Friday.
Opposition MPs stood in protest as soon as the session began. Although Speaker Ghimire tried to calm the situation by offering speaking time on a party basis, the disruption continued.
Speaker expresses concern over stalled Parliament
The House of Representatives was once again obstructed on Thursday as opposition lawmakers continued their protest demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and the formation of a parliamentary probe committee over the visit visa scandal.
As soon as the session began, opposition MPs stood up and chanted slogans, refusing to allow the House to proceed. Some lawmakers from the ruling parties demanded that they be given time to speak, but the continued obstruction led Speaker Devraj Ghimire to appeal for cooperation.
Speaker Ghimire expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, warning that the House’s failure to enact crucial legislation was undermining the effectiveness of federalism. “There is growing commentary that federalism has not been functioning effectively because the current session has not been able to deliver the laws the country needs,” he said.
Two Armed Police personnel missing during rescue drill in Saptakoshi River
Two members of the Armed Police Force went missing on Thursday while participating in a rescue drill in the Saptakoshi River near the Koshi Barrage.
The missing personnel have been identified as Suraj Saud and Hardev Rajbanshi.
According to the Armed Police Force’s Madhesh Province Office in Bardibas, the two officers were taking part in a flood rescue training exercise when the incident occurred. Both were wearing oxygen masks during the drill.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak secretly meets Shekhar Koirala amid visa scandal pressure
As calls for action against Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak grow intense within the Nepali Congress, particularly from the establishment faction, Lekhak made a discreet visit to senior Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala, who has publicly called for his resignation over the ongoing visit visa scandal.
Lekhak reportedly visited Koirala on Tuesday morning at around 8 a.m. at his contact office in Baluwatar, with sources close to Koirala saying the two had a conversation lasting 10 to 40 minutes. The meeting comes after Koirala’s statement in Biratnagar on May 24, where he said Lekhak should resign on moral grounds due to his alleged involvement in irregular visa practices at Tribhuvan International Airport’s immigration office.
“It would show integrity if the Home Minister resigned,” Koirala had said earlier.
Gyanendra Shahi questions legality of new NRB Governor’s appointment
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi has alleged that the government violated the law in appointing the new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Biswo Poudel.
Speaking at the parliamentary Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Shahi claimed that Poudel is legally unfit to assume the post.
Citing the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, Shahi pointed out that a sitting member of any political party is not eligible to become governor.
Rajaram Basnet appointed spokesperson of Nepal Army
The Nepal Army has appointed Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet as its new spokesperson.
Basnet officially assumed the role during a handover ceremony held today at the Directorate of Public Relations and Information.
He succeeds former spokesperson Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC, who is set to take over as the acting head of the Eastern Division Command starting Sunday.
Finance Ministry begins preparations for implementation of upcoming budget
The Ministry of Finance has initiated internal preparations to ensure timely and effective implementation of the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.
A meeting held at the Ministry discussed aligning the annual policy and program, budget allocations, and key milestones to formulate a clear and coordinated action plan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel directed relevant authorities to begin procurement-related groundwork for the projects and programs outlined in the budget speech. He said early preparations would enable swift contract finalizations once the budget is approved, facilitating faster execution.
NEPSE down by 5.99 points
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 5.99 points on Thursday, closing the day on a bearish note despite a high turnover.
The total trading volume for the day stood at around Rs 7.97 billion.
Out of the actively traded companies, 153 saw their share prices decline, while 94 companies recorded gains.
Petroleum imports worth over Rs 16 billion recorded through Kakarbhitta
In the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, petroleum products worth Rs 16.19 billion have been imported into Nepal through the eastern border point of Kakarbhitta.
The imports include petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and kerosene.
According to Ishwarkumar Humagain, Information Officer and Customs Officer at the Mechi Customs Office, this marks a 5.40% (Rs 917.7 million) decrease in petroleum imports compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Manoj Kumar Gyawali appointed Nabil Bank CEO
Manoj Kumar Gyawali has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nabil Bank.
The bank’s Board of Directors made the decision during a meeting held on Thursday. According to Bhishma Neupane, the company secretary of Nabil Bank, Gyawali has been appointed for a four-year term, effective immediately from Thursday.
With this appointment, Gyawali takes on the leadership of one of Nepal’s leading commercial banks, which has a significant presence in both retail and corporate banking sectors.
Civil servants’ union threatens protests if civil service act delayed further
The Nepal Government Employees’ Organization has announced it will launch a phased protest movement if the government fails to introduce a civil service act aligned with the demands of civil servants and trade unions.
The warning came during a press conference held in Kathmandu on Thursday to publicize the decisions of the union’s second central committee meeting. The organization emphasized the urgent need for a federal civil service law that guides civil servants across all three tiers of government.
General Secretary Ram Chandra Adhikari said the government has shown unwarranted delay in enacting the core legal framework necessary for managing civil service operations under the federal system. He stressed that the law must define all three-tier employees as civil servants and be designed to support both staff rights and trade union activities.
Govt to ease citizenship for children born to Nepali mothers: Home Minister
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said the government will simplify the process of granting citizenship to children born to Nepali mothers.
Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives’ State Affairs and Good Governance Committee on Thursday, Minister Lekhak said the government is working to ease the path to citizenship based on self-declaration in cases where the mother is Nepali but the father is unknown or absent.
The discussion was part of deliberations on the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024.
No elections in YCL as Maoist leadership seeks consensus pick
he CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided not to allow elections within its youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), and will instead appoint new leadership through consensus, despite growing pressure from internal factions demanding a democratic process.
The decision was finalized in a meeting of top Maoist leaders at party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’s’ residence in Khumaltar on Thursday, three days after the national convention opened at Pragya Bhawan, Kamaladi.
Though the closed session began soon after the official inauguration on Monday, the leadership selection has been stalled due to intense competition among aspirants and the party’s internal maneuvering.
Will comment after full text of Supreme Court order: Agni Sapkota
CPN (Maoist Centre) spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota has said he will make an official statement on the conflict-era case filed against him only after receiving the full text of the Supreme Court’s recent verdict.
Speaking to the media on Thursday following the party’s office-bearers meeting held at Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar, Sapkota said, “I will share my official position only after the full text of the verdict is released. The public rumors surrounding this matter hold no truth.”
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench issued a writ of mandamus allowing the resumption of police investigation into the murder of Arjun Lama of Kavre during Nepal’s armed conflict.
Gold price rises slightly, silver remains stable
A slight increase in gold prices in the international market has also affected the local market in Nepal.
Compared to Wednesday, the price of gold rose by Rs. 500 per tola today, while the price of silver remained unchanged.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of gold stands at Rs. 193,700 per tola today. Meanwhile, the price of silver has been fixed at Rs. 2,075 per tola.
Chemically ripened mangoes hit markets early, health experts warn of risks
Even before the mango season has officially begun, mangoes have started flooding markets across Nepal.
Despite Nepali mangoes typically ripening only after the monsoon month of Asar (mid-June onward), fruits ripened artificially using harmful chemicals like calcium carbide are being sold widely—from wholesalers down to street vendors and door-to-door retailers.
Health experts have raised concerns over this practice, warning that mangoes ripened with carbide are hazardous to human health. They recommend consuming only naturally ripened seasonal fruits to avoid health complications.
RPP-Nepal Chair Kamal Thapa criticizes Supreme Court for refusing to register writ petition
Chair of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Nepal, Kamal Thapa, has expressed dissatisfaction over the Supreme Court’s refusal to register a writ petition challenging the government’s recent decision to declare the entire Kathmandu Metropolitan City a restricted zone.
Thapa took to Facebook to voice his concern, stating that the Court declined to register the writ despite a clear need for judicial review of the government’s sweeping restriction order.
He pointed out the inconsistency in judicial responses, noting that in previous instances—such as when protests were barred at Maitighar Mandala—the Supreme Court had intervened immediately and ordered the restriction lifted.
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