KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress Vice President Vijay Kumar Gachchhadar has claimed that he was not involved in the incident of transferring government land of Lalita Niwas in the name of a person and has been the victim of the then KP Oli-government’s revenge.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Gachchhadar alleged that the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a false case in the Lalita Niwas land scam in retaliation.
He also accused the then KP Oli-led government of conspiring against him.
“Although CIAA is a constitutional body, it has not been able to be impartial and independent while working as a shadow of the government,” Gachchhadar said.
He claimed his non-involvement in the case and said that he had only submitted the proposal of the ministry to the Council of Ministers in the Lalita Niwas land case.
“I have not personally harmed the Nepal government by taking advantage,” he said, adding “The allegations against me are intended to tarnish my image and end my political career.”
After a nearly year-long investigation, the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, on 5 February, 2020, had filed corruption cases against 175 individuals at the Special Court, including three former ministers, over the illegal transfer of government land at Baluwatar in Kathmandu into the hands of private individuals.
Former deputy prime minister and minister for physical infrastructure and transport Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, and two former land reforms ministers Dambar Shrestha and Chandra Dev Joshi face corruption charges over the infamous Lalita Niwas scam.
CIAA, however, did not file cases against former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai, despite the illegal transfers taking place during their tenures.
Comment