Corruption Case Registered Against Former Madhes Province Minister and Others

The Abuse of Authority Investigation Commission (CIAA) has initiated legal proceedings against former Economic Affairs and Planning Minister of Madhes Province (formerly Province 2), Bijay Kumar Yadav, and six others. These individuals are facing allegations of corruption related to the misappropriation of funds allocated for the establishment, management, and operation of an antivenom production and research center in collaboration with the then Jhalnath Khanal Institute of Health Sciences (now the National Health Science and Research Council).

The commission has registered a case against the former state minister, Mr. Yadav, and the former mayor of Lalbandi Municipality, Man Bahadur Khadka, involving an amount of NPR 1798 million 33 thousand.

Additionally, a case has been registered against Economic Affairs Secretary Prem Kumar Shrestha, involving a sum of NPR 30.27 million.

Furthermore, cases have been filed against Rewati Prasad Pant, the former president of the Jhalnath Khanal Foundation, along with general secretary Navraj Bhandari, treasurer Niraj Bhandari, and member Devendra Raya.

These individuals are accused of misappropriating funds received from the government through mutual agreements without fulfilling the intended project’s objectives and diverting the funds elsewhere.

The provincial government’s budget for the fiscal year 2076/077 had allocated funds received as a supplementary grant from the federal government for the establishment of a snake venom collection, processing, and production center in collaboration with the project located in Lalbandi, Sarlahi.

However, according to the authorities, Economic Affairs Minister Yadav and Lalbandi Municipality Chief Man Bahadur Khadka unlawfully collaborated with the Jhalnath Khanal Health Science Institute. They reportedly misused their authority, fraudulently disbursing NPR 179.8 million 33 thousand.

The charges include violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059, and demand imprisonment, fines, and damages equal to the misused amount. An additional prison sentence is also sought for Vijay Kumar Yadav, who was a minister in the state government, in accordance with section 24 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059.