Gurung Had Bought 20 Ropani of Land in Dhankuta Just Two Days Before Becoming Home Minister

KATHMANDU — Sudhan Gurung, who resigned as minister on Wednesday following a property dispute, had purchased 20 ropani of land in Dhankuta just two days before his appointment as Home Minister, records have revealed.

According to the Dhankuta Land Revenue Office, 19 ropani and 15 aana of land at Karkichhap in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6 was registered in Gurung’s name via deed on Chaitra 11 (March 25). The land transaction was based on a government valuation of Rs 17,000 per ropani, with the total land value recorded at Rs 690,000. Revenue was paid accordingly, the office said.

A staff member at the Dhankuta Land Revenue Office told Setopati, “The land with plot number 167 has been registered in his name. The records show he purchased it from landowner Junu Limbu.”

According to the Land Revenue Office, the transaction was carried out based on the government valuation following a recommendation from Ward No. 6 of Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality. The ward office had recommended that the land lacked road access and was located off the main road.

Yam Prasad Magar (Deepak), ward chair of Sangurigadhi-6, said he did not know who bought the land but issued the recommendation on Chaitra 11 (March 25) after the landowner requested it.

Earlier, reports had already emerged that Gurung had purchased shares worth Rs 5.3 million in a company through secondary market transactions over a period of about 50 days, after the Gen Z movement and just five days before becoming Home Minister. Gurung was compelled to resign due to the property controversy. While resigning, he had stated that he stepped down to ensure a fair investigation into the matters raised against him. However, the land transaction made just two days before he took charge as Home Minister has sparked fresh debate.