KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Unified Socialist Madhav Kumar Nepal has appeared before the Special Court in connection with the Patanjali land case.
The court bench, comprising judges Tej Narayan Singh Rai, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Bidur Koirala, is hearing statements related to the case.
Former Prime Minister Nepal had earlier submitted a petition requesting permission to appear before the court.
“We had already filed a petition seeking the court’s permission for his appearance,” said one of his lawyers. “Based on that petition, the court scheduled today’s session for his statement.”
Legal practitioners close to Nepal plan to conclude his statement within a single day. A closed-door hearing will follow, during which Nepal’s legal team will argue for his release on a regular date while the case proceeds.
The government attorney, on the other hand, is expected to argue that Nepal should be remanded in custody as the case is being tried. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) registered the case against him on 22 Jestha, alleging irregularities in the Patanjali land transaction.
The case revolves around land provided to Patanjali Yogpeeth at a concessional rate for the purpose of cultivating medicinal herbs and constructing an Ayurveda hospital.
The CIAA launched an investigation after it was found that the land—granted by the government—was later sold following a decision made by the Council of Ministers.
According to the Land Act, 2021, the government may provide land at a concessional rate for productive industries or businesses. However, land obtained under such concessions is not allowed to be sold. Questions arose when the government itself approved the sale of such land.
India’s Patanjali Yogpeeth had established a company in Nepal in 2064 BS to operate an Ayurveda school, hospital, and herbal farm in Kavre. As the land originally held was insufficient, the organization requested additional land under the concessional provision.
On February 1, 2010, the cabinet led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal granted Patanjali permission to purchase 815 ropanis of land in Kavre. Around 600 ropanis were subsequently acquired. Within a few months, a portion of the land was sold.
Legally, land acquired under government concessions cannot be sold, and such property is automatically nationalized if the concerned company is dissolved.
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