KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has taken Joint Secretary Tirtha Raj Bhattarai of the Ministry of Home Affairs into custody.
Bhattarai, who was transferred from his post as Chief Immigration Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) just a day earlier, was detained directly from the ministry premises by CIAA officials.
He faces allegations of collecting large sums of money from individuals traveling abroad—particularly to Dubai—on visit visas during his tenure at the airport.
Bhattarai had previously served as the Director General of the Department of Offense-related Property Management before being appointed to TIA nine months ago. The airport is widely perceived as a lucrative posting, with the Immigration Office having a reputation for unauthorized financial dealings.
In response to the controversy, Bishnu Prasad Koirala, former Chief District Officer of Panchthar, has been appointed as the new Chief Immigration Officer at TIA.
Sources indicate the CIAA’s action stems from long-standing complaints, including internal disputes among staff over the distribution of illicit funds. Previous altercations had even led to the transfer of a computer operator and two subordinate officers
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