From Gold to Social Media – Public Disclosure of New Ministers’ Assets

March 12, Kathmandu – The newly formed government led by Balendra Shah has made public the asset declarations of its cabinet ministers just 17 days after its formation.

Though it has been demanded that public officials maintain transparency about their assets, previous governments had only submitted declarations to the government without making them publicly accessible.

The National Socialist Party had committed in their election manifesto to disclose assets before taking public office.

As part of the government’s 100-day plan, it was decided to investigate and disclose asset details of individuals who have served in public positions since 1990 (2047 BS). Accordingly, past officials’ declarations have been collected and published.

While the Anti-Corruption Act requires ministers to submit asset declarations, there was no legal mandate to make them public, causing many ministers to hesitate in public disclosure despite submitting them.

The government under Sushila Karki formed after the GenJi movement also did not make ministers’ asset declarations public.

The recently released data shows that most ministers are in a strong financial position, with some at a moderate level. Details of land, shares, gold, silver, and livestock have been disclosed, reflecting the affluent economic status of ministers and their families.

Prime Minister’s Principal Asset: Social Media

The definition of assets no longer limits itself to land, bank balances, or precious metals; social media followers are now also counted as assets. Prime Minister Balendra Shah disclosed that his primary source of income is social media, alongside a bank balance of NPR 14.6 million.

He reported having 400,000 followers on Facebook, 120,000 on YouTube, and 50,000 on X (formerly Twitter). Though he does not own any land in his name, his parents own sufficient property.

Prime Minister Shah indicated social media as his source of wealth. His wife, Savina Kafle, holds 190 tola of jewelry, including gold, silver, and diamonds, inherited from family.

His mother owns land including a 5-anna property in Kathmandu, 1.5 bigha in Dhanusha, and 9 bigha in Mahottari, under his parents’ names. He has not disclosed any share holdings.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung: 89 Tola of Gold and Shares Worth Millions

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung possesses 89 tola of gold. He owns 19 ropani 15 anna of land in Dhankuta, acquired through investment.

His father, Dilbahadur Gurung, owns 30 kattha in Bharatpur-18, Chitwan, while his grandfather Ramsal Gurung owns 221 ropani in Chunnerubri, Gorkha, unpartitioned.

Minister Gurung’s share investments exceed NPR 43.1 million. These include 30,000 ordinary shares of Hope Holdings Pvt. Ltd., valued at NPR 3 million, and 5,700 ordinary shares of Lagum Premium Apartments Pvt. Ltd., worth NPR 5.7 million.

He disclosed the largest portion of his investments is in the stock market.

He further reported investments of NPR 27.45 million in stocks derived from business and ancestral property. He also has shares in Adventure Villa Pvt. Ltd., with approximately 70,000 shares valued at NPR 7 million.

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle: Four Houses and Substantial Bank Balance

Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle owns four houses and apartments. These include a NPR 20 million apartment in Sanepa, Lalitpur; NPR 50 million property in Lalitpur; NPR 37.5 million in Kavre; and NPR 20 million in Tanahun.

He has NPR 19 million in bank deposits and owns 45 tola of gold.

He holds 71,930 promoter shares in Sanima Middle Tamor Hydro and 25,762 promoter shares in Shangrila Development Bank.

His investments also include NPR 9 million in National Fund Management Limited, NPR 6 million in Thulo Lakhola, and NPR 30 million in Upper Madi Hydro. He owns a vehicle valued at NPR 9.4 million.

He has loans amounting to NPR 10.5 million from Global IME Bank and NPR 25 million personal debt. He has also repaid loans of NPR 3.8 million from Rastriya Banijya Bank and NPR 7.5 million from Standard Chartered Bank.

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal: Land Under Father’s Name, Shares Under Own Name

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal’s land is registered under his father Surya Bhakta Khanal’s name, including a house of 6 anna in Kathmandu and 28 ropani 2 kattha in Tanahun Nawalpur and Nepalgunj areas.

He holds a bank balance of NPR 1.3 million and owns 22 tola of gold. Both his wife and he own shares in various companies.

Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha: 15 Tola Gold and NPR 6.4 Million Bank Balance

Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has 15 tola of gold and 50 tola of silver, inherited through family and marriage.

He holds approximately NPR 14.5 million in shares, as well as owning a scooter, car, and electric vehicle. He maintains NPR 6.46 million across various bank accounts.

Law Minister Sobita Gautam: NPR 1 Million Bank Balance

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobita Gautam owns two houses in Kathmandu and Chitwan, and has savings of NPR 1.05 million.

She disclosed loans from two banks, including repayment for a vehicle that is currently under risk.

She has taken NPR 2 million loan from Rastriya Banijya Bank, with NPR 700,000 repaid, and NPR 2.5 million from Everest Bank used for vehicle purchase.

She also reported owning 15 tola gold, 9 tola silver, and 1 tola diamond. The transferred assets were acquired through loans and salary.

Women’s Minister Sita Badi: 18 Tola Gold and 20 Chickens

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Sita Badi disclosed assets from houses to livestock.

She owns 20 chickens and one dog, a scooter, three laptops, and two mobile phones. She holds 89.65 square meters of land in Surkhet under her name.

Her husband owns a Pulsar motorcycle and has NPR 215,000 in the bank. She declared owning 18 tola of gold and 15 tola silver inherited from marriage.

Physical Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal: NPR 9 Million Bank Balance

Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Cooperative Development Sunil Lamsal has NPR 9 million in his bank account.

He reported family-owned properties in Rupandehi: 1 kattha 10 dhur; Nawalparasi: 10 kattha 15 dhur; and Syangja: 7 ropani farmland and 22 ropani cropland.

He also owns 30 tola gold and 50 tola silver.

Federal Affairs Minister Pratibha Rawal: Land in Kathmandu, Husband as Primary Income Source

Minister for Federal Affairs, General Administration, Land Management, Cooperative, and Poverty Alleviation Pratibha Rawal owns land in Kathmandu, mostly attributed to her husband’s income.

She holds properties valued at NPR 7 million in Budanilkantha and NPR 5 million in Bara, along with 25 tola gold.

She has savings exceeding NPR 2.4 million in various banks and disclosed a loan of NPR 2 million from Everest Bank taken in 2025 BS (2062-63 AD).

She also owns a vehicle worth NPR 4.4 million.

Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel: Over NPR 200 Million in Immovable Assets

Spokesperson and former Education, Science and Technology and Youth and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel declared immovable assets worth NPR 201.6 million under his and his family members’ names.

The properties are jointly owned by his father, mother, grandmother, and siblings, and span Kathmandu, Morang, and Lalitpur.

He holds 25 tola gold and 100 tola silver, with bank cash of NPR 447,994 and 5 USD. The family also has stock market investments.

His father owns government savings certificates and shares in various companies. Pokharel owns two vehicles. Total declared assets stand at NPR 241.6 million with liabilities of NPR 7.5 million.

Agriculture Minister Geeta Chaudhary: 5 Tola Gold and Over NPR 100,000 Bank Balance

Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forest and Environment Geeta Chaudhary disclosed self-earned assets, including a watch priced at NPR 50,000 and other possessions.

She owns 5 tola gold and 100 tola silver, with bank deposits of NPR 126,000.

She purchased one scooter through a loan, having repaid NPR 84,000, and owns another scooter acquired through self-earnings. She also keeps two goats and ten chickens.