Patanjali Yogpeeth and Ayurveda Company has been found to have obtained permission from the Cabinet to purchase land with a limited discount only after illegally bringing 554 ropani of land owned by Guthi Sansthan, including 250 ropani.

Patanjali's purchase of land in excess of the limit from 24 November 2064 to 28 October 2065 has been revealed in the investigation of the Abuse of Authority Investigation Commission. The Council of Ministers had given permission to Patanjali to purchase land on a restricted basis only on 18th January 2066. 

Patanjali's purchase and sale in collusion with Malpot, surveyors, land reform department, ministry etc. was found in the investigation of the authority which was legalized by the then Council of Ministers. Patanjali was registered in Nepal on 20 Oct 2064 as a non-profit company. Then, on 9 December 2064, Patanjali applied to the Ministry of Land Reforms to buy 700 ropani land at a discount in order to open an industry in Kavre.

On 11 February 2064, the ministry sent this letter to the land reform department. Then the letter reached Kavre Malpot. On June 25, 2065, Malpot Kavre took the land bond and sent it to the land reform department saying that there would be no dispute if 700 plantations were purchased in three places.

After that, by 28 October 2065, Patanjali had already purchased 554 ropani 5 annas 1 paisa land under Sanga, Mahendrajyoti and Chalal Ganeshsthan gavis of Savik which are currently under Banepa Municipality. Of the land purchased by Patanjali, 252 ropani 3 anna 1 paisa belonged to the Guthi Institute 'Hitchok Guthi'. But with the connivance of employees of Malpot and Guthi Office Kavre, that land was taken in the name of the company.

 After buying the land, on 19th January 2065, Kavre Malpot sent a letter to the Land Reforms Department asking Patanjali to get the land on a limited discount. For this, it has been revealed by the collusion of the employees of Ministry of Land Reforms, Department of Land Reforms, Malport Office Kavre and Guthi Institute Branch Office Kavre. 

On 13 February 2065, Sunrise Bank sent a letter to Malpot to hold the land registered in Patanjali for the purpose of disbursing the loan. Then on 15th of February, a loan was taken out by securing the land in excess of the limit in the name of Patanjali Yoga Peeth and Ayurveda Company. 

Patanjali had applied for permission to buy land only on 11th Mansri 2066. Accordingly, the department started the process on 30 November 2066. On December 22, 2066, the Ministry of Land Reforms raised a comment on the proposal to approve the purchase of land with limited exemption. 

Two days later, on 24th December, a proposal was taken to the cabinet to approve the purchase of 815 plantations in Kavre, 75 bighas in Dang, 300 plantations in Lamjung, 250 plantations in Syangja, 15 bighas in Chitwan, 25 plantations in Dhanusha, 125 plantations in Kathmandu Valley, 40 plantations in Bara and Parsa. 

The Council of Ministers sent the proposal to the Bill Committee on 29 December. After the approval of the committee chaired by the then Law Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, the Council of Ministers decided on January 18 to allow the land to be purchased at a limited discount. It is mentioned in the indictment of the authority that the decision of the Bill Committee is against the Land Act 2021. 

Shaligram Singh, the head of Patanjali Nepal, submitted an application to the Ministry of Land Reforms on 17 February 2066, less than a month after the decision to buy land under the limit was made.

According to the petition, then Land Reforms Minister Dumbar Shrestha approved the land sale proposal and submitted it to the Council of Ministers on 1 Chait 2066. Accordingly, on 6 March 2066, the Council of Ministers headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal approved the sale of land. According to the officers involved in the

investigation, the then Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire had instructed to implement the decision of the Council of Ministers as soon as possible. According to the same source, on 17th Chait, the then Secretary Chhabiraj Pant sent a letter to the department with the proceedings of the Council of Ministers.

The then director general of the department, Keshar Bahadur Banian, denied that the decision of the cabinet was not in accordance with the law. The Cabinet asked Baniyan for an explanation on 26 March. The next day on 27 Chait, Jit Bahadur Thapa was sent as the director general of the department. Then the cabinet decision was implemented. 

"It seems that Patanjali, land administration and cabinet officials have made a decision regarding the purchase and sale of demarcated land," said an officer of the authority involved in the investigation.

According to the Land Act (Revised in 2058) 2021, a person could own 11 bighas in Terai region, 25 ropani in Kathmandu and 75 ropani in hilly areas. In the Eighth Amendment (2076), a person can keep up to 10 bighas in Terai and Inner Madhesh, 25 plantations in Kathmandu Valley and 70 plantations in hilly areas. A person or his family can keep 1 bigha in terai and inner Madhesh, 5 ropani in Kathmandu valley and 5 ropani in hilly areas except valley if needed for household.

For certain purposes including industry/business/organization, there is a legal provision that allows land to be kept under limited exemption with permission from the government. The land that is kept under demarcation cannot be sold. The land, which is contrary to the purpose specified earlier, should be returned to the name of the government. Patanjali, on the other hand, had sold the limited concession land to housing companies and various individuals under the guise of the government mechanism. 

In the case of Patanjali's land embezzlement, on Thursday, the Abuse of Authority Investigation Commission has filed a corruption case in the special court, including the then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, the then Ministers Dumbar Shrestha and Prem Bahadur Singh, the then Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire, the then Land Reforms Secretary Chhabiraj Pant, the then Director Generals of the Land Reforms Department Jit Bahadur Thapa and Keshar Bahadur Baniyan and the head of Patanjali Nepal, Shaligram Singh.