The parties returned the amount through Rishi Ram Basynat, coordinator of a sub-committee formed to lead a delegation to the Forest Ministry over the issue. “Everything has been sorted out and the money has been returned,” Basynat said.
Chief District Officer Rishi Ram Dhakal has, however, said the investigations will not stop. Those representing the parties on the town development committee had allegedly divided up Rs 75,000-110,000 each among themselves. A sum of Rs 1.05 million was distributed amongst the parties, it is stated. Two months after the sale, the individuals who bought the land have received money back as per an understanding reached between a local protest committee and representatives of the parties. The issue had come to light on November 12.
The town development committee had sold the land plots to Takman Rana for Rs 400,000, Prema GC for Rs 400,000 and Madhu Subedi for Rs 200,000 on a condition of their getting the land ownership certificates later.
“I received the amount and I gave it to the three,” coordinator Basynat added. However, the sub-committee has shown Rs 56,000 as delegation expenditure.
Local leaders of the Nepali Congress, the Maoists, UML and other political parties had sold the three plots at Bhaluwang Municipality. It is alleged that Bishnu Rijal of UCPN-Maoist took Rs 110,000, Gorakhnath Kasaudhan (Forum and MDC president) took Rs 110,000, Dharmaraj Adhikari of UML Rs 75,000, Numananda Subedi of NC Rs 100,000, and Lalmani Sharma and Ali Mohammad Miya of Rastriya Janamorcha Rs 100,000. An official of the Forest Ministry and another from the Forest Department were given Rs 75,000 as bribes in the deal, it is also alleged.
The DAO has forwarded all related documents to the CIAA and the National Vigilance Center.
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