CIAA files graft case against Nagarjun Municipality Mayor Basnet

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed cases against the mayor of Nagarjun municipality in Kathmandu district, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, on charges of corruption and money laundering.

He is accused of misusing authority by causing a huge loss to state coffers and amassing individual property in collusion with business groups. He abused power in favor of Padma Colony Private Limited, Padma Merchant Company, and Jagatguru Kripalu Foundation Nepal that heavily dented State coffers.

The charge sheet mentioned that Basnet was involved in illicit dealing to provide land worth Rs 477 million at low price- Rs 232 million- to Padma Colony.

Similarly, Rs 21.5 million was stashed in the bank accounts of Mayor Basnet and his spouse Urmila Basnet.

Proprietor of Padma Colony, Raju Prasad Kandel, provided the hush money for the land worth Rs 68 million, while Rs 2.4 million for a wedding party.

In the lawsuit, the anti-corruption body demanded a recovery of Rs 92 million from Basnet, his spouse, and proprietor, Kandel.

On Sunday itself, CIAA filed the case on money laundering against mayor Basnet, his spouse and proprietor Kandel, demanding recovery worth Rs 132 million.