KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against former Madhesh Province Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Bijay Kumar Yadav and seven other officials at the Special Court in Kathmandu.

According to CIAA Spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel, the accused, including Yadav and other officials, are charged with encroaching on Sagarnath Forest Development Project land in Sarlahi’s Bagmati Municipality Wards 4 and 12.

The group allegedly extracted stones, sand, gravel, and soil illegally and constructed fishponds and other structures with federal and provincial government funds. This was done under the guise of “fish pond construction,” causing massive damage to government property.

The CIAA has accused Bijay Kumar Yadav and Gokul Bhujel, the then-legal officer at the Ministry of Finance in Janakpur, of embezzling NPR 299.9 million.

The investigation revealed that the fish pond construction was incomplete despite receiving multiple installments of government grants. In a controversial decision on Asar 6, 2078 (June 20, 2021), Yadav allegedly signed an MoU with the chief administrative officer of the local government, disregarding protocol to release the third phase of the grant.

The CIAA has also filed corruption charges against former Bagmati Municipality Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa, Deputy Mayor Leela Kumari Moktan, and Chief Administrative Officer Bimal Kumar Pokharel, accusing them of embezzling NPR 567.1 million.

The case includes Niranjan Lamichhane, a former engineer, accused of misappropriating NPR 101.4 million; Sagar Paudel, another engineer, charged with NPR 465.6 million; and Bishwaraj Pokharel, a former accounts officer, accused of NPR 560.3 million corruption.

The CIAA filed the case on Sunday at the Special Court in Kathmandu, seeking punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further proceedings are expected in the coming days.