Anti-Graft Body Files Case Against Officials for Illegally Registering Public Land in Mahottari

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a case at the Special Court against employees of the Land Reform and Revenue Office in Jaleshwor, Mahottari, on charges of colluding to register government public land (a pond) in the name of a private individual.

The Commission filed the corruption case on Monday against Nayab Subba Parmananda Sah and Computer Operator Rabindra Kumar Singh from the Jaleshwor Land Revenue Office, along with Rajib Kumar Thakur, who acquired the land, for illegally transferring public land into private ownership.

The land, measuring 0-5-12 (five katthas and twelve dhur) under Plot No. 127 in the former Itaharwakatti Village Development Committee Ward No. 3 of Mahottari, was government land recorded in the field book during the survey as 'Farmer's Mahal Empty,' 'Parti in Landowner's Mahal,' and 'Pond in Biraha.' However, it was found that this public land was registered in the name of Rajib Kumar Thakur through collusion with the Land Revenue Office employees, and ownership records (Sresta) and land ownership certificates (Purja) were issued.

The CIAA investigation revealed that there was no legal basis, such as any court order, decree, relinquishment, or property division, for registering the land in a private individual's name. The Commission's press release stated that the employees arbitrarily corrected, amended, and altered the office's main records (Moth Sresta) and only entered the details into the computer system on Shrawan 8, 2080, to prepare the ownership certificate.

The Commission has set the minimum valuation of the land at NPR 300,000 per katthah, totaling NPR 1,725,000 as the claimed damages (Biggo). CIAA Spokesperson Suresh Neupane informed that the charge sheet demands imprisonment and fines commensurate with the claimed damages against Nayab Subba Sah, Computer Operator Singh, and landowner Thakur, according to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059.