KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Shishir Khanal on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, calling on him to resign over his alleged involvement in the visit visa scandal.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, Khanal said it was inappropriate for Lekhak to remain in office after members of his own secretariat were reportedly linked to the controversy.
He also cited Lekhak’s own past statements on ministerial accountability when in opposition, urging the minister to uphold the same standards now.
Khanal quoted Lekhak’s March 16, 2024, speech from Parliament, when the latter had argued that any minister facing investigation should step down.
“Those were his words, not mine,” said Khanal. “Today, that very moral line he once drew has come back to question him.”
He accused the Home Minister of remaining silent despite widespread reports of large-scale corruption in the visa racket operating under his ministry’s watch. Citing media investigations, he claimed nearly Rs 4 billion has been extorted from innocent Nepali youths in just eight months through illegal visa deals.
“What’s more alarming is that not just any staff, but members of Lekhak’s secretariat are allegedly involved,” Khanal said.
He questioned the controversial appointment of a senior bureaucrat to the immigration office despite their past links to irregularities. “Why was such an official posted there—based on merit or other interests?” he asked.
He further alleged that the government transferred the official just a day before the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) was about to raid the office, raising concerns over a cover-up.
Khanal warned that evidence could be destroyed if Lekhak remained in office during the investigation and demanded a forensic probe, including examination of mobile phones and laptops. “We cannot trust a clean probe while the accused controls the law enforcement chain,” he said.
Referring to past scandals, including the Bhutanese refugee scam and recent cooperative fraud cases, Khanal said there’s a visible double standard in investigations involving ruling party figures.
“Ministers from the ruling coalition are treated with leniency, while opposition leaders face months-long detention,” he said.
Calling the visa scam a case of organized crime and money laundering, he insisted that a high-level investigation panel must be formed.
“Until such a panel is established and Lekhak resigns, Parliament cannot proceed,” he said. “This is not just about one resignation; it’s about justice for exploited Nepalis.”
*Correction: The news mentioned the statements were made by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar; however, it was made by Shishir Khanal. The error is regretted.
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