Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has initiated the process of summoning former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr Baburam Bhattarai for questioning as part of its investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.
The CIB is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the potential involvement of these two former prime ministers in the scam. “The two former prime ministers can be summoned for questioning at any time,” stated a senior official from the CBI. “Both former prime ministers are being investigated for their roles in organized crime and forgery.”
Former Prime Minister Nepal is currently in Europe to participate in a program organized by a sister organization of his party, CPN (Unified Socialist). He departed for Zurich a day after the Supreme Court directed the investigative agency to thoroughly investigate the case from the highest levels, ensuring that all individuals involved in the decision-making process are included in the scope of the investigation, not just the staff members implementing those decisions.
Nepal has consistently maintained that there is no reason to fear, as he firmly believes he has done nothing wrong. “I initiated the process of implementing the Baluwatar Master Plan with good intentions. I stand by my actions,” Nepal asserted.
On the other hand, Bhattarai has refuted the allegation that the cabinet made a decision to transfer the land owned by Samarjung Company, a unit under the home ministry, to Pashupati Tikinya Guthi. “Given that there was no proposal to include certain individuals as tenants, the cabinet has not taken any such decision,” Bhattarai clarified in a statement issued immediately after the Supreme Court’s order.
CIB sources say over 200 individuals, including two former prime ministers, six former ministers, two former chief secretaries, 14 secretaries, and 18 joint secretaries, are believed to be involved in the scam.
