Birgunj - Facts have emerged revealing a plot to illegally 'capture' and operate the prestigious Hari Khetan Community Campus, located in the main commercial hub of Birgunj, as a private company. Prem Prakash Khetan, the chairman of the management committee, has seized complete administrative and financial control over billions worth of land, physical infrastructure, and a cash balance of more than 110 million rupees in bank accounts right in the heart of Birgunj.
Zero Educational Contribution, Grandson's Extravagance on Grandfather's Donation
During the establishment phase of this campus, Bihari Lal Khetan from a prominent business family had donated physical materials such as stones, sand, bricks, and cement during the Panchayat era to construct a single-story building on 6 Kattha and 12 Dhur of land. Bihari Lal named the campus in memory of his son, Hari Lal (Hari) Khetan, who passed away at a young age. Bihari Lal's two sons are Hari Khetan and Mohan Gopal Khetan. Prem Prakash Khetan, who is currently accused of capturing the campus, is the son of the late Hari, while Rajendra Khetan, a prominent businessman in the country, is the son of Mohan Gopal (Prem Prakash's brother). However, Rajendra Khetan's involvement of any kind in this campus controversy and capture case has not been proven.
According to local sources, the Khetan family has no contribution to the academic development of the campus, apart from naming the campus after a family member who died young and giving a nominal donation at that time. However, now, under the guise of his grandfather's legacy, Prem Prakash is trying to run a family monopoly over the institution.
Eyes on Billions in Property and 110 Million Cash
Once financially modest, this community campus has now transformed into a massive financial empire. The campus currently owns the following assets:
Land and Buildings
The old main building stands on 6 Kattha and 12 Dhur of land belonging to the Guthi Sansthan (Alakhia Math), while the campus is constructing a new building near the Adarshnagar water tank after purchasing 8 Kattha of land from its own earnings.
Cash Balance
The campus currently holds around 110 million rupees in cash balance across various bank accounts.
Vehicles
The campus operates its own buses to transport students. With the intention of pocketing this physical property worth billions and 110 million in cash, Prem Prakash Khetan has refused to step down from his post despite his tenure ending in Jestha 2078 BS. He amended the constitution under his sole signature to turn the campus into a private entity, which the University Grants Commission (UGC) has declared illegal, freezing the government grants of the campus.
Financial Keys at Prem Prakash's Whim : Employees and Vendors Suffer
According to campus sources, the campus is currently running entirely on the whims and instructions of Prem Prakash Khetan. Bank checks are issued only under his direction. The task of distributing salaries to campus employees and professors and making payments to 'vendors' (suppliers) who supply goods to the campus is carried out by Prem Prakash's own private individuals. The accounts of the campus at Rastriya Banijya Bank, Nepal Bank Limited, and Laxmi Bank (now Laxmi Sunrise) are operated by management committee member Sunil Khetan and officiating campus chief Kishori Rai. Both Sunil Khetan and campus chief Rai are considered close associates of Prem Prakash. "Sunil Khetan is not always available at the campus, due to which the checks cannot be signed. Neither do the employees receive their salaries on time, nor do the vendors supplying goods receive their payments," lamented an employee of the campus.
Lack of Laboratories and Educational Materials, Suppliers Disgruntled
Due to such helplessness and financial negligence of the campus administration, even the daily teaching and learning activities of the campus have begun to be affected. Suppliers providing books, lab (laboratory) materials, stationery, and materials for the construction of the new building have now started hesitating to send goods as they are not receiving payments on time. With an illegal management committee holding this historic community institution—associated with thousands of students and hundreds of professors and employees—hostage, the educational sector of Birgunj has been defamed. It remains to be seen what steps the local community and regulatory bodies will take against this action of the Khetan group, which enjoys the land worth billions and funds worth tens of millions in the prime commercial location of Birgunj as if it were private property.
