KATHMANDU, Dec 12: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Thursday filed a corruption case against six individuals, including Joint Secretary Tirth Raj Bhattarai of the Ministry of Home Affairs, in connection with a visit-visa trafficking scam.
Bhattarai, who was earlier arrested on May 21 by CIAA security personnel from his workplace at Tribhuvan International Airport, where he served as Chief of Immigration, is facing a recovery claim of Rs 7.98 million.
On the same day, CIAA officials confiscated documents related to the scam after allegations emerged of an organised network of employees, intermediaries, and travel agencies extorting money from Nepali travellers seeking visit visas abroad.
Others charged include former TIA immigration officer Yagya Raj Aryal, from whom Rs 800,000 has been sought; Bal Krishna Khadka, president of Greenline Holidays Pvt Ltd, and Ram Khadka of the same company, both facing recovery claims of Rs 3.02 million each; and Deepak Bhandari of Family Holidays Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd, facing Rs 1.06 million in recovery. Mediators Kabita Paudel and Khem Prasad Subedi are also facing recovery claims of Rs 7.98 million each.
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Bhattarai, Paudel, and Subedi have additionally been charged under the Money Laundering Act, with recovery claims of Rs 10.37 million each.
Tirth Raj Bhattarai is accused of facilitating visit-visa permits for 23,349 Nepalis, including 16,769 women, who departed for the UAE, Oman, and Qatar between 9 October 2024 and 21 May 2025 but did not return. Their current whereabouts and conditions remain unknown.
CIAA investigators found indications of suspicious dealings through unusually long and frequent telephone calls between Bhattarai and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Lekhak’s private secretary Badri Prasad Tiwari, personal secretary Janak Bhatta, and then Home Secretary Fanindra Prasad Gautam. Documents and call detail records suggest possible irregular interactions between these officials. Authorities are expanding the probe to examine the roles of senior Home Ministry officials, including section chiefs and administrative heads, in facilitating the illegal visa racket.
On September 26, 2023, police investigated 1,513 visit-visa applications and detected forgery and complicity—such as falsified relationship certificates, bank details, and police reports—in 246 applications. The investigation revealed that visa seekers were paying between Rs 50,000 and Rs 300,000 to airport officials, including airline staff and immigration officers.
While political figures, including former Home Minister Lekhak, were under scrutiny, the CIAA named only Bhattarai and selected intermediaries as defendants due to insufficient evidence. Statements were taken from Lekhak’s personal secretary and other officials, but no actionable involvement was established.
Following the revelations, several parties—including the former CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)—obstructed Parliament, demanding an investigation into Lekhak’s role. While the Maoists later withdrew their obstruction, the RSP and RPP continued to call for Lekhak’s resignation, a fair probe, and the formation of a high-level inquiry committee.
CIAA also noted irregularities in ground-handling procedures related to checking air tickets and other documents, recommending a separate investigation. TIA officials, including Bhattarai, are accused of providing No Objection Certificates to Indian nationals, allowing non-Nepalis to go abroad for work in exchange for substantial sums.
TIA officials are also accused of issuing visit visas to individuals who already held foreign work visas, prompting the CIAA to recommend further investigation.
Earlier, strict rules introduced by former Home Minister Balkrishna Khand in March 2022 required minimum annual income, prior travel history, educational qualifications, and sponsorship documents for visit-visa approval. Exploiting these strict rules, authorities colluded with middlemen to illegally collect money from laypeople under the promise of sending them abroad on visit visas. These regulations were later relaxed by successive Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, but loopholes allowed some airport staff to continue extorting travellers.
