Police Ramping Up Probe into Lalita Niwas Land Grab Scam

Kathmandu– The Nepal Police has significantly escalated its efforts in investigating the Lalita Niwas land grab scandal. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police has been delving deep into the intricacies of the scam. In a decisive move, the CIB has obtained arrest warrants against four former ministers suspected of their involvement in the fraudulent scheme.

An extensive 143 ropani (approximately 72.6 hectares) of government-owned land was illicitly transferred into private ownership from the year 2049 BS to 2069 BS. This audacious scheme saw the government-owned Lalita Niwas land being transferred into individual possession through fraudulent means.

On the previous Sunday, the Supreme Court (SC) issued orders to probe individuals who were directly engaged in decision-making processes within the former Council of Ministers. This includes individuals responsible for certifying and executing these decisions. The SC’s directive also encompasses those who facilitated the progression of the proposal to higher authorities.

As a direct response to the SC’s orders, the CIB obtained arrest warrants against several prominent figures. The list includes the former Deputy Prime Minister and ex-Minister for Physical Planning, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar; the former State Minister, Sanjay Kumar Shah; the former Minister of Land Reform, Chandra Dev Joshi; and former Minister, Dambar Bahadur Shrestha. Nepal Police Spokesperson, Kuber Kadayat, confirmed this development.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, acknowledged the SC’s order and assured its implementation. In light of the mounting pressure on the CIB due to the SC’s directive to expedite the investigation, IGP Kunwar held discussions with the Attorney General and other relevant government authorities.

To date, 23 individuals have been apprehended in connection with the alleged involvement in the land grab scam. Among them, three have been granted release through habeas corpus petitions, while the remaining 20 are being held in custody to facilitate further investigation, according to CIB’s Superintendent of Police (SP), Nawaraj Adhikari.

This latest development highlights the unwavering commitment of Nepal Police to uncover the truth behind the Lalita Niwas land grab scandal. The rigorous investigative efforts underscore the determination to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the restitution of public resources.