Archive · 25 Jun 2025
Nepal Forms Probe Panel Amidst 'Visit Visa' Scam Allegations
The Nepal government is looking into a problem where people traveling on visit visas might have been cheated.
The Home Minister has created a group to investigate, led by a former top official.
The investigation is focused on if immigration officials have been extorting Nepali citizens.
However, some political parties think this investigation is just a way to hide the problem.
The government is proceeding with the probe without the Home Minister resigning, despite initial calls for his departure.
Nepal's Home Minister formed a probe committee regarding the visit visa scam.
The probe committee consists of seven members and is led by former Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi.
The opposition parties have rejected the committee, calling it a 'cover-up act'.
The probe is related to alleged extortion of Nepalis traveling on visit visas.
The CPN (Maoist Centre) initially demanded resignation, then agreed to a probe without it.
- Who
- A seven-member probe committee, led by former Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, will conduct the probe.
- What
- Probe into the alleged extortion of Nepalis traveling on visit visas.
- When
- The probe was announced recently.
- Where
- Tribhuvan International Airport
- Why
- To investigate alleged extortion of Nepalis traveling on visit visas.
Government
Opposition Parties
Adequacy of the Response
Government
The government has accepted the proposal and is taking action.
Opposition Parties
The formation of the probe committee is insufficient, a cover-up.
- Investigation focus
- Alleged extortion of Nepalis with visit visas
- Committee Head
- Shankar Das Bairagi
- Home Minister
- Ramesh Lekhak
- Initial Demand
- Resignation of the Home Minister
- Opposition Stance
- Rejection of the committee as a 'cover-up'