Lalita Niwas Case: Testimony of 18 defendants in custody today

KATHMANDU, Aug 28: The testimony of the defendants in the case of the Lalita Niwas land scam is beginning today. The District Government Attorney’s Office on Sunday filed a case in the District Court Kathmandu making 289 people defendants.

The lawyer's office also filed a case against the 21 people who have died as defendants for the purpose of returning the land. 18 people, including the operator of Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, Min Bahadur Gurung, are in custody in the case.

After the testimony of the arrestees ends, the detention hearing will begin. All except the 18 defendants are on the absconding list. Former Election Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Shah has been released after the decision of the Government Attorney.

The Central Investigation Bureau of the Police had opined to the Government Attorney to conduct a 57-day investigation into the crime of organized forgery and file the case on the same offense. However, the Government Attorney has demanded that 'organized crime' is not attracted in the Lalita Niwas, and the punishment and fine should be imposed only on 'forgery’.

CIB has concluded that 72969.16 sq. meters of the Lalita Niwas camp’s land have been misappropriated. CIB had also concluded that former Ministers are involved in the scam and upon its suggestion, four former Ministers including former Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar have been made defendants.

The Government Attorney has also made the Secretary of the Communication Ministry Krishna Bahadur Raut and the Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry Sushil Baidhya defendants.