Court orders release of Gurung and 17 others accused in Lalita Niwas land scam on bail

Kathmandu, 10 Sept: The Kathmandu District Court has ordered release of 17 accused including Businessman Min Bahadur Gurung in the Lalita Niwas land scandal on furnishing surety of various amounts while Keshab Tuladhar was released on personal bond.

District judge Bholanath Dhakal said as it was not possible to declare all of them ‘non-guilty’ at this stage, they will be released on furnishing surety of various amounts whereas Keshab Tuladhar was released on personal bond.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police had detained eighteen individuals in the course of investigation into the scandal.

Gurung has been asked to furnish 24. 6 million as surety for his release whereas 16 others have been asked to furnish varying amounts.

Senior advocates Upendra Keshary Neupane, Shambhu Thapa and Lalit Basnet had argued on behalf of Gurung who has been given the bail along with the highest surety amount.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on 22 of August had submitted its investigation report on the Lalita Niwas land scam to the District Public Prosecutor Office, Kathmandu.