Federal lawmaker and former minister Mohammad Aftab Alam, who was arrested on October 13 in connection with a bomb blast and subsequent murder of as many as 23 people in Rautahat in 2008, has refused to undergo a polygraph test.

Police on Tuesday attempted to carry out the test after the Nepali Congress lawmaker denied his involvement in the murder while recording his statement.

Alam was taken to the Office of District Attorney on Sunday for the statement. He was asked 33 questions but he refused his involvement in the blast and the subsequent murder of the injured.

“He (Alam) claimed in his statement that there was no explosion and obviously no injuries and murder. After he denied the incident we prepared the polygraph test but he refused,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Nabin Karki.