CIB fails to submit its probe report on controversial Lalita Niwas land-grab scam on Sunday

Published On: August 21, 2023 08:15 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Aug 21: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has further delayed the submission of the investigation report regarding the embezzlement of Lalita Niwas land in Baluwatar to the Office of the District Government Attorney (ODGA).

Due to its failure to conclude the investigation within the given deadline, the CIB has further deferred the date of submitting its final report to the ODGA. Earlier, the CIB was set to submit its report to the ODGA on Friday.

Achyut Mani Neupane, chief of ODGA, Kathmandu, said the CIB has not submitted its report despite the order of the ODGA. According to him, the CIB is likely to submit its report only on Monday or Tuesday.

Currently, the CIB has been investigating four cases related to the Lalita land grab scam. Under the case of illegally transferring ownership of more than 112 ropanis of land, the CIB has issued arrest warrants against 209 accused. Similarly, the authority has issued arrest warrant against 110 accused under case of over four ropanis of land registered under Pashupati Tikinchha Guthi, while arrest warrants have been issued against 13 indicted in the ownership of over 12 ropanis of land under the discounted land registration.

Similarly, 74 individuals have been accused of misappropriating over 25 ropanis of land under the case of exchange and reimbursement of land to fake tenants.

Official records show that the government acquired the land measuring 114 ropani [5.8 hectares] at Lalita Niwas, Baluwatar giving due compensation back in 1964. Lalita Niwas actually comprised 284 ropanis of land and it was all nationalized back then. Over the period, the land was captured by various influential individuals, including political party leaders, bureaucrats and businessmen.

While the investigations are in progress, the Supreme Court (SC) has paved the way for the government authorities to investigate against the then prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai. These two political figures were in lead positions during the land embezzlement case of Lalita Niwas.