#news #Nepal #SupremeCourt
A recent development regarding the Lalita Niwas land scam case has caught the attention of many in Nepal. The Supreme Court has announced that the hearing on this case involving two former Prime Ministers, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, will reach its final verdict in a full bench.
The case, filed by senior advocate Balkrishna Neupane, has seen Chief Justice Prakashman Singh along with justices Tek Prasad Dhungana and Nityanand Pandey presiding over the proceedings for the final verdict. The petitioners had accused former Prime Ministers Nepal and Bhattarai, along with former Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudyal, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police, of complicity in the Lalita Niwas land scam.
In 2066/67, during Madhav Kumar Nepal’s tenure as Prime Minister, a decision was made by the Cabinet to transfer the Lalita Niwas land to fake Mohi and Bhuma Phiyal in the name of land expansion for a prominent individual’s residence. Similarly, in 2069, when Pushpa Kamal Dahal was in power, a decision was made to regularize the land of Lalita Niwas under Pashupati Ghuthi, with nearly 3.5 ropanis of land being fraudulently registered in the name of Ghuthi, leading to allegations against Chief Secretary Poudyal.
Furthermore, after the Central Investigation Bureau decided not to pursue action against some former officials, a request was made for further investigation, prompting a petition to be filed against them. This complex legal battle has sparked discussions across the country, with many eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision.
Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, expressed his concern over the implications of this case on the political landscape of Nepal, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in high-level government dealings.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: April 17, 2025 7:01 pm
