Kathmandu. The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case at the Special Court against Yadunath Acharya, the then non-gazetted first class officer of the Land Revenue Office, on the charge of amassing illegal assets worth Rs 9.72 crore.

The anti-graft body has named Acharya, his wife, daughter and other persons as defendants in the case and demanded fine, imprisonment, fine and confiscation of the illegally acquired property.

According to the CIAA, Acharya had joined the government service as VDC secretary in Khotang on January 15, 2054 and the period till December 7, 2080 has been made the period of investigation.

The CIAA has claimed that Acharya and his wife have a total of Rs 62,563,345.48 in legal income including remuneration and savings, money received from sale of real estate, loans taken from banks and financial institutions, repayment of due diligence, agricultural income and interest income.

However, the anti-graft body has also spent and invested Rs 159,835,335.31 in the purchase of land and real estate, registration fee, capital gains tax, investment in Halesi Department Store Pvt Ltd, payment of loans for land purchase, loan loan to various individuals, purchase of vehicles, study expenses, share purchase and loan payment of banks and financial institutions, among others, according to the CIAA.

The commission has concluded that the source of assets worth Rs 9,72,71,989.83 is not revealed after subtracting the total expenditure and investment from the total legal income.

Acharya has been accused of illegally acquiring property in connivance with other defendants and concealing and transferring it through various transactions. The CIAA has sought confiscation of illegally acquired property including imprisonment and fine under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059.

Acharya’s wife Lalita Rajbhandari has also been made a defendant in the suit of Rs 9,72,71,989.83. The commission has accused him of playing the role of an accomplice in the acquisition of illegal property.

Likewise, Acharya’s daughters Nilu Acharya and Saru Acharya have been named as defendants only for the purpose of confiscating the illegally acquired property.

Similarly, Prabha Basnet, a resident of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-2 in Bhaktapur and Kumari Katuwal, a resident of Pepsicola, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-32, have also been named as defendants. A fine of Rs 38,86,182.08 was imposed against them and confiscation of property.

The CIAA has also sought punishment against Acharya and his wife Rajbhandari in a separate case of money laundering. The CIAA has sought recovery of Rs 9,19,84,576.19 crore from Acharya and Rajbhandari in connection with the money laundering charge.

Likewise, the CIAA has sought punishment and confiscation of property against Prabha Basnet and Kumari Katuwal on the charge of money laundering.

According to the CIAA, money laundering has been carried out in real estate transactions, financial transactions with various individuals, investment in companies and shares and transfer of money to different levels in course of land purchase and sale.

With the filing of the chargesheet, the charges against the defendants will now be decided by the Special Court.