KATHMANDU: A formal complaint has been filed against Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, alleging his involvement in a visit visa racket and human trafficking operation at Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office.
Yubaraj Safal registered the complaint at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Friday, alleging massive irregularities in the issuance of visit visas based on forged documents, with authorities reportedly extorting large sums of money.
The complaint accuses not only Home Minister Lekhak but also the head of the Immigration Office, members of the Home Minister’s secretariat, and other officials of being part of the illegal operation.
Safal claims that individuals traveling to Gulf countries on visit visas were charged up to Rs 50,000, while those heading to developed countries were extorted for as much as Rs 300,000. He alleges that millions of rupees were collected daily from such transactions.
According to the complaint, these funds were allegedly distributed among Minister Lekhak, Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Immigration Chief Tirtharaj Bhattarai, officials Khagendra Subedi, Balkrishna Poudel, and Bimal Poudel.
The complaint also names Ganesh Ojha, a member of the Home Minister’s secretariat, and private secretary Janak Bhatt as being involved in the visa “setting” scheme.
Safal has called on the Prime Minister’s Office and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to immediately suspend Home Minister Lekhak and Home Secretary Duwadi and initiate legal proceedings against them.
He also demanded a review of the visit visa system over the past five years and a probe into whether those who traveled abroad on such visas have returned to Nepal.
Comment