KATHMANDU: The Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) has ordered a freeze on all assets owned by Nepali Congress (NC) leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar in connection with a corruption case in Lalita Niwas land grab scam.

The DLMI preliminary investigation ordered freeze on all movable and immoveable property, including bank accounts, shares, cars, land and houses, owned by leader Gachhadar, his wife and two sons.

The order has been given after DMLI could not verify legal means of income for the leader’s wealth.

DLMI Director General Rup Narayan Bhattarai said probe into Gachhadar’s property had begun after the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority filed a corruption case against him at the Special Court for his role in the land grab case.

Bhattarai added he could not tell more to the media since the case was under investigation.

According to sources, the leader maintains accounts in Standard Chartered Bank, Rastriya Banijya Bank, and Everest Bank. His wife Nirmala’s accounts were found in Rastriya Banijya Bank (Biratnagar), Nepal Bangladesh Bank (Kathmandu) and Sincere Saving Cooperative. The family owns land in various places in Eastern Nepal and here in Kathmandu.