Complaint Filed Against Former Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai Over Alleged Corruption in Gautam Buddha International Airport Project

A serious allegation of corruption has surfaced against former Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai. A formal complaint was submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the federal parliament, accusing Bhattarai and several senior officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) of being involved in widespread financial irregularities during the construction of the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.

The complaint, filed on Chaitra 3, 2081 BS (March 16, 2025), claims that although the airport project cost around Rs. 6 billion excluding land compensation, an additional Rs. 13 billion was allegedly misappropriated through fraudulent practices related to land acquisition, compensation distribution, and equipment procurement.

According to the petitioner, compensation for land acquisition was massively inflated beyond official government rates. It is alleged that properties not connected to main roads were compensated at premium rates, typically reserved for road-adjacent plots, due to collusion between project officials and local brokers. Land that had been donated for public use—such as temples, schools, and monasteries—was reportedly acquired under false claims from individuals pretending to be heirs of deceased owners, and compensation was disbursed under fraudulent identities.

The complaint also accuses project officials of inflating assessments for damage to homes and public buildings in order to receive kickbacks. The funds, initially deposited in the name of legitimate landowners, were allegedly siphoned off by brokers acting on behalf of corrupt officials, including then Project Chief Prabhesh Adhikari and accountant Pradeep Kumar Sah.

In a shocking claim, the complaint details how an audit team from Bajaj Audit Firm had uncovered around Rs. 570 million in irregularities. However, the findings were allegedly suppressed after project officials paid a bribe of Rs. 20 million to the audit firm’s owner. Consequently, the 61st Annual Report of the Auditor General included only a generic summary that omitted key irregularities at the Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports.

Furthermore, the complaint highlights concern over the procurement of low-quality Instrument Landing System (ILS) equipment worth over Rs. 1 billion. The procurement process was reportedly designed to restrict competition and award the contract to a preselected bidder. The equipment, once installed, reportedly failed to function as required, resulting in major financial losses. It is alleged that officials received around Rs. 350 million in bribes related to this transaction.

Yogesh Bhattarai, in his capacity as then Tourism Minister, chaired a subcommittee under the Public Accounts Committee that conducted an inspection visit to the airport. According to the complainant, Bhattarai discouraged his fellow lawmakers from raising corruption concerns during the visit, presenting the airport project as a success despite objections from other committee members. The complaint suggests that Bhattarai maintained close ties with CAAN Director General Pradeep Adhikari and benefited from personal favors, including a luxury car and alleged investments made in real estate and hospitality ventures under the names of Bhattarai and his relatives.

The individual behind the complaint, a resident of Bhairahawa representing citizens of Rupandehi, has called on the committee to launch a thorough and impartial investigation. The complainant emphasized the need for legal action against those responsible, while requesting anonymity for safety reasons. The submission also links Bhattarai and Adhikari to similar allegations in other infrastructure projects, including Pokhara International Airport and the Janakpur Terminal Building.

As pressure mounts for accountability, the Public Accounts Committee is now expected to closely examine the complaint and determine the extent of mismanagement in what was once hailed as a project of national pride. Neither Yogesh Bhattarai nor the Civil Aviation Authority has issued an official response to the allegations so far.