Bhesh Narayan Dahal, executive director of Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Republic Monument Management and Operation Committee, has resigned.

Bhusal’s resignation follows a probe report implicating him

that shows his involvement in allowing a private business to run a cafe inside Narayanhiti Palace Museum without following due process.

Dahal was indicted for violating the legal process while allowing Batas Group to construct a cafe inside the museum premises by a probe team led by Hom Prasad Luitel, joint secretary of the Tourism Ministry.

The team was formed on January 6 to look into how the Batas Group received permission to build and operate a cafe on the premises of Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

The probe report was submitted to the ministry on Monday.

The report states that Batas was given permission to use only 6.34 annas of land to run a cafe but it was found to have been using 14 ropanis of land for construction of the said cafe.

The probe report says Dahal had encouraged Batas to use more land inside Narayanhiti without specifying the area in the agreement paper.

“We have received the resignation and it has been accepted,” Tourism Minister Prem Bahadur Ale told the Post.