Kathmandu, February 15
The Special Court on Thursday convicted a dozen individuals in the case of embezzlement involving Lalita Niwas land.
A joint bench of judges, including Khusi Prasad Tharu, Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Ritendra Thapa, not only convicted 12 individuals but also ruled that the land registered and transferred under 65 individuals would be reclaimed and reverted to government ownership.
According to the court order, individuals including Ram Kumar Subedi, Shova Kant Dhakal, Min Bahadur Gurung, who were secretaries at the land ministry, Chhabi Raj Pant, Dip Basnyat, and even the family of Subarna Shumsher have been found guilty. Others in the list of convicts include Kaladhar Deuja, Surendra Man Kapali, Yukta Prasad Shrestha, and Jagat Prasad Pudasaini.
According to the court order, Ram Kumar Subedi, Shova Kant Dhakal, Min Bahadur Gurung, Chhabi Raj Pant, Deep Basnyat, and even the family of Subarna Shumsher have been found guilty. Others on the list of convicts include Kaladhar Deuja, Surendra Man Kapali, Yukta Prasad Shrestha, and Jagat Prasad Pudasaini.
A sum of Rs 19.6 million will be collected as recovery, collectively from former secretaries Chhabiraj Pant and Deep Basnyat, as well as from former employees of the land revenue office and land reform office, for embezzling 2.3 acres of land.
Meanwhile, the court acquitted the then Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, and then Ministers for Land Reform, Dambar Bahadur Shrestha and Chandra Dev Joshi in this case.
Similarly, then Secretary Dinesh Hari Adhikari has also been acquitted. The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a corruption case at the Special Court on February 5, 2020, citing that 14.2 acres of public land at Lalita Niwas were transferred and registered in the names of individuals.
The CIAA had named 175 defendants in this case, including four former ministers and three former secretaries.
