Section 51: Prohibition of act against national interest

1) No one shall do, or cause to be done, any act against national interest.

2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), where any person does, or causes to be done, any of the following acts, he or she shall be considered to have done an act against national interest:

(a)  To dishonour or degrade or spread hatred or enmity against the freedom, sovereignty, geographical or territorial integrity, nationality, independence, self-esteem of, or international image of, Nepal,

(b) To encroach the international boundary of Nepal, or remove or dislocate any boundary pillar, except in accordance with agreement with a neighbouring country, or to so change any boundary pillar as to be prejudicial to the geographical or territorial integrity of Nepal.

3) Any Nepali player or a group of Nepali players, who representing Nepal, plays any match in competition with any player or players in Nepal or a foreign country shall not play, or cause to be played, such match in connivance with or under the influence of any one in a manner to manipulate a natural result of such match or to make a bet win or lose, and where any match has been so played, the offence against national interest shall be considered to have been committed.

4) Any person who commits the offence referred to in sub-section (2) or (3) shall be liable to the following punishment:

(a) A sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees, in the case of the offence referred to in sub-section (2),

(b)  A sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and fine not exceeding thirty thousand rupees, in the case of the offence referred to in sub-section (3).

5) Where any person has transacted money in the course of the commission of the offence referred to in sub-section (2) or (3), the amount of money so transacted shall be forfeited, in addition to the punishment pursuant to sub-section (4).

6) Any person who orders, directs, abets, incites or facilitates the commission of the offence referred to in sub-section (3) shall be liable to punishment as if that person were the principal offender.

7) Where the offence referred to in sub-section (2) or (3) is committed by a public office holder or a person representing Nepal, while in a foreign country, he or she shall be liable to an additional sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.