KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Senior advocate Bal Krishna Neupane has moved the apex court demanding former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai be indicted in the Lalita Niwas land grab scam challenging the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)’s decision.

In the writ petition, Neupane has demanded the CIAA implicate the former prime minister for their involvement in illegally transferring the land at Lalita Niwas, Baluwatar to the name of various private individuals.

The petition comes a week after the anti-graft body filed a corruption case at the Special Court against 175 individuals including Nepali Congress Deputy-Parliamentary Party leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and three former ministers, while exonerating the ex-PMs, Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Paudel and ex-Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi.

The CIAA has said it did not charge-sheet Nepal and Bhattarai as policy decisions made by the cabinet do not fall under its jurisdiction.

Reporters Nepal: Recently leaders from various parties have come under the radar of law enforcement authorities for illegal and criminal activities. The investigations that have begun have put a few behind bars. Affrighted leaders are now timid waiting to see what happens next.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara was arrested on a rape allegation charge and the investigations are ongoing. Former Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress Mohammed Aftab Alam is in custody for the brutal and nightmarish murder of over 23 people in the brick kiln case that happened over 12 years ago. Another leader from the Nepali Congress Devendra Raj Kandel is under the scanner for dual citizenship.

The unfolding events have dreaded the senior leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Bishnu Poudel. He is under the scanner for the Lalita Niwas land grabbing case where he is alleged to have substantial personal gains. In the Lalita Niwas land grabbing case, it is found that the Poudel family has acquired 2738 square feet of land.

Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has taken his statement regarding this case. The other leader involved is the Vice-President of Nepali Congress Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and his statement is also going to be taken soon by the CIAA.

In the Lalita Niwas scam, there is land in the name of the family members of Bishnu Poudel which has him worried about repercussions. Although he has stated several times that he is innocent in this case. The current government under PM Oli has also had several artists under arrest. Due to this factor, the pressure is mounting to take action against the accused of more serious offenses and crimes.