Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yogpeeth has come under scanner in neighbouring Nepal for a slew of dubious land deals. The trust had acquired more than 800 ropani (over 100 acre) land at discounted rates in 2007 following a nod from the Nepal government. However, it was later sold at market price, a Headlines Today investigation has revealed.

Though land was acquired for building yoga and ayurveda centres, locals have accused Patanjali of selling off over 500 ropani land at the prevailing market rates to private companies and individuals over the last one year. The land was sold to some builders also at a rate 10 times its original value, villagers alleged.

The residents of Sanga, a village around 20 km from Kathmandu, have been infuriated as many of them had sold vast stretches of land to Patanjali on promises that it would be used for yoga centres. They now feel cheated.

Shyam, a resident of Sanga, said, "Patanjali purchased 800 ropani land here to build yoga and ayurveda centre and other educational institutes. But Kathmandu Homes has purchased land from Patanjali to use it for commercial complex."

The officers of land registry office of Nepal confirmed the villagers' allegations.

Ved Prasad Aryal, information officer in Kabre district land registration office, told Headlines Today: "Patanjali had purchased more than 500 ropani land and later sold it to seven private players for housing and commercial purposes."

Some locals even complained of defaulting in payment for their plots by Patanjali. Some villagers alleged that the cheques given by Patanjali as compensation for their land bounced.

Nar Bahadur Tamag, a villager, said, "We got cheques for the land we gave but Patanjali Yogpeeth's cheque has bounced."

According to documents accessed by Headlines Today, the land purchased by Patanjali was much more than the sanctioned limit one can purchase in Nepal. Clearly, rules were bent by the Nepal government to suit requirements of the Patanjali.

However, Patanjali's Nepal unit rubbished all reports against it.

Its convenor Saligram Singh said, "Why Ramdev and Balkrishna do any sort of business in Nepal? We were never involved in such illegal practice ever."

While the income tax department sleuths probe Ramdev's vast assets in India, clearly troubles for him and his key aide Balkrishna are mounting in the adjoining Himalayan republic also.