The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court in Kathmandu against Santosh Chalise, a former lawmaker and mayor of Gokarneshwar Municipality.

The anti-graft body has sought recovery of Rs36.84 million from him for allegedly amassing property disproportionate to his lawful income.

A press release issued by the CIAA on Sunday said that it examined Chalise’s income and expenditure from May 22, 2017, when he assumed office as mayor, to July 16, 2022, when his five-year term ended.

The commission concluded that his total expenditure and investments far exceeded his verified sources of income.

“After analysing lawful income and verified expenditures during the period, assets worth Rs36,847,761 were found to have no legitimate source,” CIAA spokesperson Ganesh Bahadur Adhikari said in the release.

The CIAA has charged Chalise under the Prevention of Corruption Act, seeking imprisonment, a fine equivalent to the disputed amount and confiscation of illegally acquired property.

The charge sheet also names his wife Mandira Chalise, sons Sagar and Sanjiv Chalise, and daughter-in-law Pramila Pokharel as defendants for the purpose of confiscating assets allegedly held in their names using illicit funds.