Kathmandu, July 23 -- Former land management minister and Nagarik Unmukti Party chair Ranjita Shrestha appeared before the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Wednesday to give a statement in connection with the controversial Batulechaur land scam.

The CIAA summoned Shrestha as part of its ongoing probe into the alleged illegal acquisition of 134 ropanis of public land, known locally as the "Litchi Orchard," in Pokhara's Batulechaur.

Investigators believe that Shrestha may be implicated in the bribery deal that facilitated political appointments of key officials in the land revenue office and the now-defunct Land Problem Resolution Commission.

Officials confirmed that Shrestha's voice sample was also record...