KATHMANDU, Feb 2: The Kathmandu District Court (KDC) has granted permission to authorities to detain industrialist Arun Chaudhary, who was arrested in connection with the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory land-grab case.

A police team from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Chaudhary from his residence in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, on Thursday morning. Chaudhary, currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of CG Holdings, is accused of being involved in the Bansbari Leather and Shoe Factory land-grab case. The KDC has allowed the CIB to hold Chaudhary in custody for four days to conduct the investigation.

In its preliminary investigation, the CIB found that Chaudhary deliberately embezzled 10 ropanis of land owned by the shoe factory, which was privatized around three decades ago and is no longer in existence.

Police also arrested Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, the former chairman of the state-owned shoe factory, and Sanjay Thakur, the proprietor of Amrapali Construction, for their connection to the land embezzlement case. Thapa was arrested from his residence in Battisputali, Kathmandu.

CIB Spokesperson SP Nawaraj Adhikari informed Republica that the trio have been arrested for a necessary investigation in connection with the land-grab scam.

Meanwhile, the private sector has condemned the arrest of industrialist Chaudhary. Organizing a press meet on Thursday, entrepreneurs associated with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries criticized the government for arresting Chaudhary without conducting a proper investigation.

The private sector has denounced what it called the ad hoc decision of the CIB to arrest Chaudhary, who was not even called for clarification regarding the investigation, reads a press statement issued by the CNI.

 
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