Kathmandu, Aug. 22: The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police asked former Prime ministers Baburam Bhattarai and Madhav Kumar Nepal in connection with the Lalita Niwas land grab case.
The CIB recorded their statements that it was preparing to submit an investigation report on the case to the district government attorney’s office.
In a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Bhattarai confirmed on Monday morning that he recorded his statement.
On August 6, the Supreme Court ordered the authorities to launch an investigation against members of the then Cabinet for their supposed involvement in making decisions to transfer the ownership of the Lalita Niwas land in Baluwatar in the name of private individuals.
According to sources, both the former prime ministers admitted that the government land was captured by the land mafia when they took the decision believing the proposal from the ministry. They argued that they had no intention of grabbing the land and taking illegal benefits from it, adding that they would cooperate in bringing the guilty to book.
The Lalita Niwas area covers around 300 ropanis [around 15 hectares] of land adjoining the prime minister’s residence, Nepal Rastra Bank’s central office and some VIP residences.
