Kathmandu: The Special Court has found Bharat Kumar Thapa, Mayor of Bagmati Municipality in Sarlahi, guilty in two out of four corruption cases filed against him. Thapa, who was elected from the CPN (Maoist Center), has been convicted of illegally amassing property and causing damage to the state.

A bench comprising Chairman Tek Narayan Kunwar and members Murari Babu Shrestha and Bidur Koirala sentenced Thapa to one year in prison for illegally acquiring wealth. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 34.522 million and ordered confiscation of the illegally obtained assets.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had accused Thapa of accumulating property worth over Rs 34.5 million through illicit means during his tenure.

Additionally, the court found Thapa guilty in a municipal tax embezzlement case, along with two others—Bimal Kumar Pokharel and Sagar Poudel. The court determined that the trio embezzled Rs 300.29 million, including VAT, primarily related to taxes on river products, causing substantial financial damage to the state.

The Special Court has scheduled August 29 for the sentencing hearing in the embezzlement case for all three convicted individuals.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted three others—Leela Kumari Moktan, Bishwaraj Pokharel, and Methur Chaudhary—who were also implicated in the tax-related corruption charges.