CIAA Files Corruption Case Against Former Lawmaker Santosh Chalise, Cites Unexplained Assets Exceeding Rs 36.8 Million

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against Nepali Congress leader Santosh Chalise, a former lawmaker and then mayor of Gokarneshwar Municipality, accusing him of amassing wealth illegally.

The case was registered at the Special Court on Sunday on charges of acquiring assets disproportionate to his lawful income. Chalise had also served as chair of the Finance Committee of the now-dissolved House of Representatives.

According to the CIAA, Chalise held public office from May 22, 2017, to mid-July 2022. During this period, he and his immediate family earned a lawful income of a little over Rs 48.8 million. However, the commission’s investigation found that they created, spent or invested assets worth more than Rs 85.6 million over the same period.

The CIAA said it could not establish the source of assets worth Rs 36.85 million, concluding that the amount was illegally acquired. The commission also stated that Chalise maintained an unusually high standard of living inconsistent with his declared income.

CIAA Assistant Spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari said documents submitted by Chalise during the investigation appeared to have been prepared in an attempt to portray the assets as loans. However, the evidence failed to substantiate any lawful source of income, he added.

The CIAA has sought punishment under Section 20 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2002, demanding confiscation of illegally acquired assets, imprisonment and a fine equivalent to the claimed amount of Rs 36.8 million. It has also sought additional punishment for concealing actual details in asset declarations.

The commission has named Chalise’s family members—his wife Mandira Chalise, sons Sagar Chalise and Sanjiv Chalise, and daughter-in-law Pramila Pokharel—as defendants for the purpose of confiscating properties purchased or invested with illegal assets.

Separately, the CIAA said Chalise failed to submit his asset details for fiscal year 2020/21 and has decided to write to Gokarneshwar Municipality to recover the fine as per the Prevention of Corruption Act.