The racket involved in sending Nepali nationals abroad on fake visit visas through the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office has dominated media headlines in recent days. Social media is abuzz with discussions about the scandal, which has also raised allegations against Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. This follows the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) raided the airport’s Immigration Office and seized related documents a few days ago. The anti-graft body is currently investigating Joint Secretary Tirtha Raj Bhattarai and others on charges of accepting bribes from individuals seeking to travel abroad on fake visit visas. As public scrutiny grows around Minister Lekhak’s potential involvement, it is crucial to ensure an independent investigation. The Home Ministry should proactively facilitate this process to uphold transparency and accountability.
While some leaders from the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and opposition parties have called for Minister Lekhak’s resignation, stepping down at this stage—without any concrete evidence of wrongdoing—may set a problematic precedent. Forcing ministers to resign merely because subordinates are found guilty of corruption could destabilize governance. Moreover, since Minister Lekhak has publicly declared his willingness to step down if proven guilty, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Lekhak is widely regarded as one of the relatively clean leaders within the ruling NC. It is also important to recognize that the visit visa scandal did not originate during Lekhak’s current tenure. If systemic issues persist, such incidents are likely to continue in the future. Therefore, the focus must be on ensuring that such malpractice does not recur.
Form Independent Probe into Visit Visa Scandal
Although the CIAA continues its investigation, it is imperative that the government or parliament take the initiative to form an independent probe panel. This panel should investigate the root causes of the scandal and recommend concrete measures to curb such practices. Those familiar with the issue note that the illegal facilitation of travel on fake visit visas has been ongoing at TIA for years. This malpractice must be uprooted. Some experts even advocate for abolishing restrictions on outbound travel, arguing that such controls have only created opportunities for corrupt officials to exploit travelers. Whether or not to end these restrictions is a matter for broader debate, but the immediate priority is to form an independent investigation committee to uncover the full extent of the scandal. It is also vital to acknowledge that this scam likely extends beyond immigration officials to include security personnel and airline staff. To understand the depth of the problem and ensure accountability at all levels, the formation of an impartial and empowered investigation committee must not be delayed.
