Corruption Case Hearing Against Former Sudurpashchim Chief Minister Sodari Postponed

Kathmandu. The hearing on the corruption case against former Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Dirgha Bahadur Sodari, has been postponed.

The case was scheduled for hearing on Monday before the bench of Special Court judges Narayan Prasad Poudel and Hemanta Rawal. However, the hearing was postponed at the request of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

The CIAA filed the corruption case against Sodari on Jestha 19, 2082, claiming a total amount of NPR 10,838,302.57. The CIAA filed the case in the Special Court on the allegation of accumulating illicit wealth through acts contrary to official dignity.

According to the investigation, Sodari had declared the total assets of himself and his family as NPR 8,551,334.92 in legitimate earnings when he was the Chief Minister in 2074 BS. However, the CIAA mentioned in the charge sheet that he accumulated illicit wealth amounting to NPR 10,838,357.57 by misusing his power while in office.

According to the charge sheet, Sodari misused his position as Chief Minister to purchase land, construct houses, and increase bank deposits in the names of his wife, Gita Sodari, and son, Babik. The report states that he spent a total of NPR 19,389,637.49 under various headings, including land purchase, house construction, interior decoration, daughter's education expenses, son's marriage expenses, share investment, and election expenses.