NC calls urgent meeting after Gachhadar dragged into Lalita Niwas scam

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: The Nepali Congress has called an urgent meeting at his residence in Budanilkantha today after the he Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case against its Deputy Parliamentary Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar at the special court charging him and 174 other of illegally transferring the 299 ropanies of land at Lalita Niwas to the name of various individuals.

The CIAA on Wednesday filed a charge sheet against Gachhadar, former CIAA chief Deep Basnet, former ministers Chandra Dev Joshi, Chhabiraj Pant and Dambar Shrestha, former secretary Dinesh Hari Adhikari, Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket owner Min Bahadur Gurung, businessman Shobhakanta Dhakal and various other individuals; and has sought a court order to bring back the land that is currently owned by 65 individuals and billions in fine to the accused.

Gachhadar was the Physical Planning minister under the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government and Basnyat the secretary at his ministry when the land was transferred to various individuals and fake tenants.

However, the CIAA has spared former PMs Nepal and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai saying the cabinet decisions—which reportedly paved way for the illegal transfer of the Lalita Niwas land in private ownership—could not be investigated as they do not fall under their jurisdiction.

The CIAA also did not file any cases against Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Paudel and his son Navin Paudel, who own eight annas of land in Lalita Niwas, and for Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi saying they had promised to return the land.

But the NC is not happy that its vice-president was dragged but the ruling party leaders spared and questioned the CIAA’s motive.

NC leaders Krishna Prasad Sitoula, Minendra Rijal, Gopal Man Shrestha, Prakash Man Singh and other office bearers are attending the meeting, after which the party is likely to give its official statement on the CIAA’s move.

The NC has also called some legal experts to discuss the issue.

Photo: Rss