Kathmandu – Suspended Mayor of Bagmati Municipality in Sarlahi, Bharat Kumar Thapa, has been found guilty in an illegal wealth accumulation case.

The Special Court has sentenced Thapa to one year in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 34.5 million. The verdict came in response to a case filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Thapa was accused of amassing illegal property worth Rs 53.3 million. The court ruled for a one-year prison term, a fine of Rs 34.5 million (Rs 34,522,387), and confiscation of equivalent property.

Alongside Thapa, the court also convicted Chief Administrative Officer Bimal Kumar Pokharel and Planning Division Chief Engineer Sagar Paudel on corruption charges. However, Shila Kumari Moktan, Bishwaraj Pokharel, and Methur Chaudhary were acquitted.