Special Court demands Rs. 3.5 million as bail amount from former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal

Kathmandu: The Special Court has demanded a bail amount of Rs. 3.5 million from former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in the Patanjali land case.

A joint bench of judges Tejnarayan Singh Rai, Rambahadur Thapa, and Bidur Koirala issued the order on Wednesday, requiring him to submit Rs. 3.5 million bail bond.

The detention hearing for Nepal, who is also the chairman of the CPN (Unified Socialist) party, was conducted in the Special Court on Wednesday.

Five lawyers argued on behalf of Nepal, including former Attorney General Raman Shrestha, Shambhu Thapa, Khamba Bahadur Khati, and Govinda Bandi, who requested the court to release him unconditionally.

Government lawyers, however, argued that Nepal should be kept in custody until the trial.

The case stems from a charge filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against 93 people, including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, at the Special Court on June 5. The charge is related to transferring land in Kavre, intended for the Patanjali Yogpeeth, beyond the land ceiling limit.

The land was initially purchased under an exemption for herbal farming and an Ayurvedic hospital, granted by the government. Later, it was sold based on a decision by the Council of Ministers led by then Prime Minister Nepal, prompting an investigation by the CIAA.

The CIAA has sought a claim of Rs. 185.85 million from Nepal in the case.

At the time, Nepal alleged that the charge was a conspiracy from the very beginning, aimed at destroying his political career. He expressed confidence that the court would deliver justice.

Speaking at an event, he said, ‘Some friends and individuals have been alarmed by the role of our party. They are acting out of prejudice. Their motives are fueled by revenge, and this is reflected in the corruption case brought against me.’

Nepali version of the news