7 Indicted in E-Passport Printing Irregularity Case, Detention Hearing Underway

Kathmandu. With the statements of 7 people, including the Director General of the Department of Passports, Tirtharaj Aryal, who have been accused of corruption in the e-passport printing irregularity case, the detention hearing has begun.

The detention hearing has started with the completion of the statements of seven people, including Aryal, in the bench of Special Court judges Narayan Prasad Poudel, Hemanta Rawal, and Umesh Koirala. After the detention hearing concludes, the court will decide today whether to release them on bail or send them to jail for trial.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Monday presented the Director General of the Department, Aryal, along with Director Sunil Kumar KC, former Accounts Officer Tulsi Prasad Acharya, former Section Officer Somesh Thapa, Computer Engineer Bipin Prasai, former Deputy Secretary (Law) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rajaram Dahal, and Nepal representative of German company Muhlbauer, Munindra Raj Malla, in court.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Monday filed a case, determining that more than 10 billion 13 crore rupees were embezzled in the e-passport printing case. The commission's conclusion is that government officials and representatives of foreign companies colluded in the two package tenders called by the department, causing billions in losses to the state.