Kathmandu, Aug 15: The Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) have taken a statement from former chief secretary Leelamani Paudyal in the case of embezzlement of Lalita Niwas land. According to CIB, information has been taken from Paudyal regarding the decision and certification of the decision of Council of Ministers of the year 2069 BS.
CIB Superintendent of Police Navraj Adhikari said that information was taken from former Chief Secretary Paudyal about Lalita Niwas and this is a regular process.
In the year 2069 BS, the Council of Ministers gave in-principle approval to transfer the land of Lalita Niwas to the name of Pashupati Tikinchhaa Guthi (trust). It is said that the CIB took a statement from him regarding that decision.
Earlier, the Commission on Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) also took a statement from him. Some time ago, the Supreme Court had ordered to launch investigation on decision-making officials, including former Prime Ministers.
The CIB investigating the Lalita Niwas land grab case. The CIB has already taken arrest warrants against former Deputy Prime Minister and Physical Planning Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, State Minister Sanjay Kumar Shah, Land Reforms Minister Chandradev Joshi and Dambar Shrestha who were involved in transferring government owned Lalita Niwas land to Guthi and then to individuals.
According to the CIB, 20 people have been detained and the investigation is ongoing. During the period from 2049 to 2069 BS, 143 ropani land of Lalita Niwas was stolen. In that case, the then prime minister, minister as well as the secretary of the relevant ministry, the Guthi Sansthan (corporation) and other officials have been implicated.
Sources say that the CIB will be interrogating former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr Baburam Bhattarai soon.
