The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has taken action against 249 individuals, including former City Development Committee chairpersons, for their alleged involvement in corruption related to public land registration in Tikapur, Kailali. The corruption case was filed in a special court, accusing the defendants, including Netra Prasad Joshi, former chairperson of the City Development Committee, of orchestrating the illegal transfer of public land into private individuals’ names through forged documents and nominal payments.
According to the CIAA, the accused officials, including former presidents Netra Prasad Joshi, Lalit Tamrakar, and Dheeraj Regmi, manipulated documents to transfer public land to individuals based on personal interests and relationships, rather than following the legal procedures outlined in the Urban Development Act of 1988 and the Urban Development Guidelines of 2004. The authority has also targeted the buyers of the unlawfully acquired land for legal action and intends to seize the properties involved.
The corruption case encompasses a range of individuals, including former presidents and coordinators of sub-committees formed during their respective tenures, as well as officials directly involved in the land transfer process. Names such as Ganesh Singh Rawal, Khadak Bahadur Shah, Bam Bahadur Bam, and others associated with the sub-committees formed under Joshi’s and Tamrakar’s leadership have been charged, along with officials like Bal Bahadur Kadayat and Jhapparsinh Bishwakarma, who held positions in the Tikapur Development Committee and related offices.
The CIAA’s actions underscore a commitment to combatting corruption and ensuring accountability within government bodies responsible for managing public resources. By holding individuals accountable for abusing their positions for personal gain, the authorities seek to uphold transparency and integrity in land management practices, safeguarding public assets from exploitation and misappropriation.
