Kathmandu. Police have arrested five persons on the charge of cheating people while purchasing land for the Nepal Red Cross Society.

According to the investigation report on irregularities related to the Red Cross Society received from the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, it has been found that the transaction was carried out through middlemen while purchasing land for the operation of godown houses in Bhaktapur. According to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police,

According to the CIB, they were arrested after obtaining permission from the Bhaktapur District Court to carry out the investigation. The arrestees have been identified as Rajesh Desmaru of Madhyapur Thimi-3, Umesh Prasad Dhakal of Kathmandu-26, Madan Krishna Phoju of Changunarayan-5, Sanjiv Thapa of Madhyapur Thimi-1 and Indra Bahadur KC of Kathmandu-16.

According to the notice published on September 8, 2016, NRCS had paid Rs 63,281,250 for the purchase of land measuring 5 ropanis 13 anna and 3 paisa in Bhaktapur-4. Investigations have revealed that the middlemen took Rs 1.93 crore out of the said amount.

When the Survey Office, Bhaktapur ascertained the area of the land, it was revealed that the land was less than what was mentioned in the paper, i.e. 5 ropanis 6 anna 2 paisa 1 daam. It is said investigation has been initiated on the charge of causing financial loss to NRCS by purchasing the land through middlemen against the terms of the tender agreement.