Lambodar Neupane's Case in Non-Hearing Bench in Kathmandu

The case involving Lambodar Neupane, the former chairman of Nepal Engineering College, linked to property laundering, bribery, and embezzlement, has been assigned to a non-hearing bench in Kathmandu. The case relates to financial disputes and irregularities. The Supreme Court justices, Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Tek Prasad Dhungana, had scheduled a joint hearing, but it could not proceed.

Conviction in Property Laundering Case

The Special Court had previously found Neupane guilty of illegally transferring the college's property into his personal account. The bench, led by Special Court Chairman Tek Narayan Kunwar and member Ram Bahadur Thapa, ruled that Neupane had unlawfully moved the assets of a social institution into his private account. According to the court, he embezzled NPR 12.04 crore (120.4 million rupees) without proper documentation, converting institutional funds into personal wealth.

Misuse of Funds and Salary Benefits

The Special Court stated that Neupane illegally benefited from NPR 12.84 crore (128.4 million rupees) by misusing funds under the guise of salary allowances, vehicle expenses, and other benefits. Additionally, he failed to pay taxes on the illegally obtained income.

Bribery Scandal Involving Anti-Corruption Official

Neupane was also involved in a bribery scandal where he gave NPR 7.8 million as a bribe to Rajanarayan Pathak, then a commissioner at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). The bribe was meant to cover up irregularities within the college. However, after the deal fell through, an audio and video recording of the bribery negotiation was leaked, leading to public outrage. Fearing impeachment, Pathak resigned from his position.

Legal Consequences and Sentencing

The CIAA filed a case against both Neupane and Pathak in the Special Court. The court sentenced each to three years in prison and a fine of NPR 3.9 million. Pathak received an additional three-month jail term. The court found them guilty of attempted corruption but reduced their sentences by half. The CIAA later appealed to the Supreme Court for a stricter penalty.

Neupane had challenged the Special Court’s decision in the Supreme Court on February 5, 2024 (Falgun 5, 2081 BS), seeking relief from the conviction. The case remains pending further judicial review.