Once upon a time, actor Sitaram Kattel used to make the audience laugh in his 'Dhurmus' avatar. Now his face is sad. It is covered only with pain and sadness.

He was running the gates of Bharatpur Metropolitan City and Singha Durbar until a few days ago. After running every day for five years without any success, he left the courtyard of Bharatpur Metropolitan City with tears in his eyes two days ago.

Sitaram and his wife Kunjana Ghimire, who are gaining popularity through their art, did not want to rest on their laurels. After the 2072 BS earthquake, they took up social work. At that time, the talk of 'Dhurmus Suntali' was so high that social media users imagined them in responsible positions like the Prime Minister and Minister. But the ambition to build the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium in Bharatpur started a downward journey in their lives.

The Dhurmus Suntali Foundation, which had completed work worth Rs 571.2 million, had done work worth Rs 184.3 million on credit alone. Sitaram is now exhausted from carrying that debt in his pocket. Sitaram had started the work on loan when those who promised to give him money had encouraged him. But as the work progressed, those who promised to help backed down. Sitaram was left alone.

• Politics in the stadium

The ownership of the stadium, which was announced with pomp at the National Assembly on 16th Magh 075, was finally handed over to Bharatpur Metropolitan City on 2nd Poush 078. When the ownership certificate was handed over, the foundation had completed work worth 579.2 million. The same unfinished work is now being carried forward by Bharatpur Metropolitan City in partnership with the state and federal governments. The work done on loan by the foundation while building the same structure is now weighing on Sitaram. This is not only affecting his personal life, but also his family and social life.

In an interview with Kantipur Television, Sitaram has revealed some aspects of the accusations and pain he is facing. The Sitaram couple, who could not give enough time to their young daughter while going out for social work, were badly shaken by an incident. One day when her daughter was 13 years old, she came home from school crying. When asked why she was crying, the daughter said, ‘Dad, you are a fraud. Don’t cheat this person.’

The daughter’s words hurt them deeply. She asked her daughter, ‘Who told you?’ ‘A friend told you.’ Yesterday, her parents were talking. You are really frauds.’

They explained it to their daughter. But like a fire in the chaff, the baseless accusations against them hurt the family a lot. In an interview with Kantipur, Sitaram’s brother Kumar expressed his pain, saying, ‘My brother’s condition is not good. My parents are also very stressed due to this. I have to take care of everyone in the family.'

Sitaram, who has been away from acting, has recently made a comeback with his brother's film 'Laaj Sharanam'. But he is not yet able to take his acting career further. 'For these five years, I walked only with my breath. If I survive, it will prove that I was not wrong,' says Sitaram.

About 20 years ago, Nepal Television started broadcasting a new comedy series 'Meri Bassai'. 'Dhurmus' and 'Suntali' became unforgettable characters for the audience from the very first episode. The pair of Dhurmus and Suntali were so popular on the reel that when they got married in real life, their talk was not lacking in every household.

They were also seen in other avatars in 'Meri Bassai'. Their caricatures were also very popular with the audience. Not only on television, but also in various comedy and stage programs, they were in wide demand. At a time when their popularity in art was growing, a major earthquake hit Nepal on April 12, 2017. Sitaram-Kunjana also took an important step in rebuilding the houses that had collapsed due to the earthquake.

They built a hill settlement near the Kavre Bhagwati Temple, a collective housing complex in Giranchaur in Sindhupalchowk, a Musahar settlement in Bardibas in Mahottari, and an integrated model settlement in Santapur in Rautahat. After that, their art graph went downhill. They continued to do social work.

During the floods in the Terai during Shrawan in 2017, a photo of them went viral. After the photo of Sitaram himself carrying and rescuing flood victims from Bhardaha in Saptari went viral, he was praised. More hearts melted with works like distributing relief to flood victims. In the meantime, he envisioned the 'Model Nepal Basti'. This was also an ambitious project of theirs. But it was postponed before it could begin.

In April 2075, the Sitaram couple was seen renovating Bir Hospital. At that time, the Ministry of Finance transferred money to them and gave them Rs 7 million. Despite the government's initiative, the public believed that this was done by 'Dhurmus'. At that time, if anyone questioned their work and transparency, social media users would attack them.

After the International Cricket Council (ICC) recognized Nepal as an international one-day cricket nation on Chaitra 1, 2074, Sitaram dreamed of an international stadium. He had taken votes on Facebook, 'Model Nepal first or an international-level stadium?' Sitaram was delighted when the idea of ​​an 'international cricket stadium' was announced.

After inviting people to buy land in various places, Dhurmus Suntali Bharatpur Metropolitan City also went to see the land. He easily got 20 bighas and 6 kattas of land in West Chitwan from the metropolitan, provincial and central governments at that time. Pushpa Kamal Dahal and KP Sharma Oli, who seemed to be united for the stadium at that time, were positive.

Meanwhile, Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal was also excited. On Magh 16, 2075, an agreement was signed between the foundation and Bharatpur Metropolitan City to build the stadium. Sitaram, with top leaders of political parties as witnesses, had promised that the stadium, which can accommodate 30,000 spectators, would be completed in two years at a cost of Rs 3.55 billion.

It is not that there was no support from home and abroad. The people of Bharatpur also contributed what they could financially. Dhurmus Suntali went abroad for a program to support the stadium. He also made the film 'Senti Virus' to support the stadium. He organized various programs. He organized a seven-day Mahayagya in Bharatpur. During that period, the stadium work was progressing on credit. But he was limited to promises from wherever he went. They backed down. Finally, as the burden of debt piled up, Sitaram withdrew from the campaign. In 2078, the metropolis took ownership, but he is struggling to get the amount due.

Sitaram says that he lost his property in the process of building the stadium. 'I had to pay TDS on my existing vehicle, I sold it and paid. Now, send me a bike and ride it. The foundation's office was in Old Baneshwor. After not being able to pay the rent for 13 months, he is now kept in Imadol's garment. I have kept important documents at home,' he says.

He is also sick due to this rush and worry. He is currently undergoing regular treatment. When he went to Bharatpur Metropolitan City, he was undergoing treatment at the Community Natural Hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kathmandu. He is suffering from neurological diseases, anxiety and pressure.

Recently, the Ministry of Finance has allocated 150 million for this. But the Bharatpur Metropolitan City has delayed giving it to the Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation. Sometimes the metropolis asks the Ministry of Finance to write a letter, sometimes the Ministry of Sports. 'When they said they needed a letter from the Ministry of Finance again, Bharatpur had to write a letter to the Ministry of Finance.' I had objections to the language in the letter at that time. This was not the language of the direction . I asked to know by taking the letter . The Ministry of Finance will provide the budget, and it will be given . It seems that the Metropolitan City will make any other procurement regulations or do anything,’ he said, ‘Since I did it for the government, the central government cannot escape responsibility . Why should the Metropolitan City be even more sensitive . Because we have worked by agreement with the Bharatpur Metropolitan City .’ 

From here, when he reaches the Ministry of Finance with a letter, he is shown to the Metropolitan City . When he reaches the Ministry of Sports, he has to return with the same disappointment . ‘I am being a postman . From Bharatpur to the center, to the center, to Bharatpur . Again, a letter was written saying that the opinion of the Ministry of Youth and Sports is needed . After coming with that letter, it was said that it would be finalized by the board . The suppliers reached there . Immediately, some solution  It didn't work out,' he says with complaint.

Since receiving the money, Sitaram wants to free himself from responsibility by settling the liabilities of 144 suppliers. But why isn't it happening? After widespread pressure and questions started to arise on social media, the Bharatpur Metropolitan City issued a statement. In a statement issued by Chief Administrative Officer Laxmi Prasad Poudel, it is mentioned that the metropolis is looking for a method to pay private liabilities using government funds. 'The issue of paying private liabilities created by individuals and organizations privately using government funds is a very sensitive and legally complex issue,' the statement states. The metropolis has not been able to find the process and procedure for spending the money.

'Our position is that the federal cabinet should decide and directly provide grants to the foundation. Rather, we are ready to do whatever recommendations need to be made,' says Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal. He said that the metropolis has not been able to find a process or procedure for purchasing property built or created by a private or community organization in any law prevalent in Nepal.

Chief Administrative Officer Poudelal told Kantipurkarmi that they have also written to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Sports to clarify this issue and received a response from both the organizations that no further opinion is required. ‘We have also written to the Ministry of Finance and Sports to understand this issue.’ The metropolis had written to the Ministry of Finance on 21 Kartik to get more clarity on this issue. The ministry responded on 24 Kartik. The metropolis has again written to the Ministry of Sports on 28 Kartik. The Ministry of Sports responded on 30 Kartik,’ he said.