KATHMANDU: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) General Secretary Bishnu Paudel has issued a second statement in a bid to clear allegations levelled at him in the controversial Lalita Niwas land purchase scam.

In the press statement issued today, the former Finance Minister has stated that he had acquired eight aanaa of land from Uma Dhakal and Madhavi Subedi after fulfilling all the legal procedures on January 13, 2005.

In his defence, Paudel stated that he had sold eight kattha of land which was registered in his wife's name in Bardaghat Municipality-8 in Nawalparasi district (the then Tilakpur Village Development Committee Ward No. 3), on October 15, 2004, before purchasing the land in Baluwatar.

The NCP (NCP) leader goes on to clarify that he purchased the plot at a time when he was not holding any government portfolio.

"I have provided information on the ownership of this property while submitting every property-detail to the government as and when required, even after being elected to the Constituent Assembly in 2007."

Paudel has further urged the concerned authorities to carry out a thorough investigation as required and bring the culprits to book.

"I will support the state authorities in every investigation related to this issue," Paudel stated.

A national daily had first published a report on the land-scam while reports of Paudel's possible involvement in the land-grab scam surfaced later.

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