Chaudhary Group withdraws land claim over Bansbari Leather Factory plot

KATHMANDU: The Chaudhary Group has officially withdrawn its claim over the land previously associated with the Bansbari Leather Shoe Factory. The group, represented by CG Chandbagh Residency Pvt. Ltd., had filed writ petitions challenging the government’s decision to nationalize the land. However, both petitions have now been withdrawn from the Supreme Court.

On behalf of CG Chandbagh, Chairman Sanjay Kumar Thakur filed an application to withdraw the writ petitions, which was registered on Tuesday. A bench comprising Justices Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Nrip Dhwaj Niraula granted the withdrawal request, deeming the petitions irrelevant. Consequently, the cases have been removed from the court’s docket, effectively ending CG Chandbagh’s claim to the land.

No Further Legal Recourse

Following the withdrawal, Chaudhary Group is no longer in a position to stake a claim on the nationalized land. Once a writ petition is withdrawn, the same claim cannot be brought to court again.

The government had already decided to nationalize the Bansbari land, and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police, along with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), is currently conducting separate investigations into alleged fraud related to the property.

Investigations Ongoing

The CIB has been tasked with completing its investigation report by the first week of Magh (mid-January). However, the CIAA, which has no statute of limitations for such cases, has yet to conclude its investigation.

The controversy stems from accusations that the land was fraudulently registered under the company’s name, involving forgery and potential corruption. The government’s decision to reclaim the land began in Magh last year, with the Dillibazar Land Revenue Office issuing a notice to CG Chandbagh Residency to submit evidence supporting its claim. On Chaitra 9 (March), the land was officially nationalized, prompting CG Chandbagh to file its second writ petition, which has now been withdrawn.

Motives Behind the Withdrawal

Sources from the Office of the Attorney General suggest that the Chaudhary Group withdrew the petitions to alleviate pressure on investigative agencies and government attorneys.

“The petitions were likely withdrawn as the original objectives behind filing them had already been achieved, rendering further legal action unnecessary,” said a source from the Attorney General’s Office.

Implications of the Withdrawal

The withdrawal could influence the likelihood of criminal charges being filed against those involved in privatizing the land. The CIB is reportedly preparing a report suggesting that, with the petitions withdrawn, there may be no need to proceed with criminal cases. However, if evidence of forgery or fraud is found, legal proceedings could still follow.

Meanwhile, the CIAA continues its investigation into allegations of corruption related to the transfer of public land into private ownership.

Given the ongoing investigations and the judicial review processes, the final decision on whether to pursue charges remains pending approval from the Attorney General’s Office. Even if a decision is made not to file charges, the Supreme Court could conduct a judicial review of such a decision.