Former secretaries, including ex-CIAA chief basnyat, face arrest warrants in Lalita Niwas land scam

KATHMANDU: Four former government secretaries, including former CIAA chief Basnyat, are facing arrest warrants in connection with the embezzlement of Lalita Niwas land in Baluwatar, according to recent developments.

The Nepal Police spokesperson, DIG Kuber Kadayat, confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued for Deep Basnyat, Chhabi Raj Pant, Dinesh Hari Adhikari, and Narayan Gopal Malego. These individuals are accused of being involved in the improper transfer of government-owned land at Lalita Niwas to private individuals.

Sudhir Shah, a former joint secretary, has already been apprehended, while Deep Basnyat, who previously served as the chief commissioner of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), is currently evading arrest.

The Lalita Niwas case revolves around the sale and acquisition of 114 ropanis of land, and the police have taken the initiative to reinitiate their investigation into this matter.