LRO to attach Dixit family property

Kathmandu, June 2

Land Reform Office, Lalitpur, has written to Land Revenue Office, Lalitpur, to attach 18 ropanis of land owned by Kanak Mani Dixit and his family, besides some institutions owned by them.

According to Shanti Raj Prasai, Land Reform Officer, Lalitpur, his office wrote to Land Revenue Office, Lalitpur, after being asked by Land Reform and Management Department to attach five ropanis of land owned by Kamal Mani and Kunda Dixit.

The rest of land plots in question, according to Land Reforms Office, are under the ownership of Jagadamba Press, Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya and Hotel Oasis for which the notice has already been served.

The office also sought the respondents’ responses within 15 days.

Prasai said his office would launch an investigation into the matter after Dixit family and other parties to who notices have been served, come up with their responses in the case.

“Prima facie it appears that when Dixit family filled ledger (phantbari) 7 after the Land Reforms Act, 1964, came into force, they gave the details of only 12 ropanis but the records showed that they had almost 19 ropanis of land under their ownership at that time,” he added.

According to Ratna Man Udas, Information Officer of Land Reform Office, Lalitpur, Kamal Mani Dixit and Kunda Mani Dixit were served notices related to five ropanis ‘excess land.’ Kanak Mani Dixit was served notice for having ownership of some land, which was under the ownership of Jagadamba but was excess land (land above ceiling), the ownership of which was supposed to be transferred to the government.

Land Reform Officer Prasai said his office would investigate into the matter.

Land Reform Office, Lalitpur, has also served notice to one stepson of Jagadamba, Gopal Shamsher JB Rana, and her two step grandsons, Shiv Shankar JB Rana and Gauri Shankar JB Rana.

Udas said his office summoned stepson and step-grandsons of Queen to get details on how the title of the property owned by Jagadamba was transferred to Dixit family and institutions in question.

According to Prasai, Jagadamba’s land was also transferred to Jagadamba Press, Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya and Hotel Oasis.

These developments come hot on the heels of the CIAA writing to the Ministry of Land Reform and Management, asking it to reclaim almost 18 ropanis of land owned by Dixit family and   institutions owned by them.