Corruption charges have been filed against 18 individuals, including Tirtha Raj Aryal, director general of the Department of Passports, in connection with the passport printing controversy.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed corruption charges against employees of the Department of Passports, employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives of foreign companies.
Those charged include Department of Passports Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal, Information Technology Director Sunil Kumar KC, former directors Shatrudhwan Prasad Sharma Pokharel and Rabindra Rajbhandari, and former accounts officer Tulsi Prasad Acharya.
Charges have also been filed against computer engineer Bipin Prasain, former section officer Somesh Thapa, former under secretary (law) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rajaram Dahal, former under secretary (accounts) Bhesh Prasad Bhurtel, and former under secretary (law) Pushkar Raj Nepal.
The CIAA has sought damages amounting to Rs 10.13 billion from the accused.
According to the anti-graft body, complaints had been filed alleging serious irregularities and corruption from the very initial stages of the tender process invited by the department for passport printing.
The investigation following these complaints revealed collusion, planning, and involvement between officials and foreign companies, leading to illegal benefits and financial loss to the government.
Two German companies were awarded contracts for the passport printing project.
In the procurement process, Muehlbauer ID Services was awarded the contract for Package 1, which includes pre-enrollment, enrollment, data management, and delivery system. Veridos secured Package 2, covering personalization, quality control, and packaging system.
The CIAA alleges that the contracts were awarded through collusion and in violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, Public Procurement Regulations, 2007, and other applicable laws in a manner designed to ensure that the two German companies secured the contracts.
Corruption charges have also been filed against Gerhard Maurer, Pavle Rakic of Muehlbauer ID Services, and the company's Nepal representative Manindra Raj Malla. The CIAA has sought Rs 1.91 billion in damages from them.
Similarly, charges have been filed against Fabiola Bellersheim and Florian Pacquelin of Veridos, and the company’s Nepal representative Siddhartha Thapa. The CIAA has sought Rs 8.22 billion in damages from them.
Earlier, as part of the investigation, the CIAA had served a notice on June 16 summoning former foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba for questioning. The notice was also posted outside her residence in Budhanilkantha.
Likewise, on June 18, the CIAA had published a notice in The Rising Nepal newspaper directing the two German companies involved in the passport project to appear either in person or virtually for questioning.
It had previously emerged that, on June 16, members of Prime Minister Balendra Shah's secretariat questioned CIAA officials and pressured them into issuing an arrest warrant for Director General Aryal. Aryal was subsequently taken into custody from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
