KATHMANDU, May 10: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has denied any involvement of its leadership in alleged corruption or unlawful activities linked to the recent visit visa scam at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office. In a statement issued on Saturday, MoHA Spokesperson Chhabi Rijal stated that the ministry’s leadership is not implicated in any form of misconduct.
Earlier on Saturday, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had announced that an official statement from the ministry would be released the same day. He also indicated that he would personally address the issue in a few days. Following this, the MoHA issued a formal clarification.
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“The ministry has taken serious note of the news reports and public commentary circulating in various newspapers and on social media platforms that have attempted to link the ministry’s leadership to the incident at the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office,” the statement read. “The Ministry expresses its concern over the dissemination of such speculative, misleading, and baseless reports.”
The MoHA reiterated that its leadership is not, and will not be, involved in any unlawful or corrupt practices. Emphasizing the gravity of the matter, the MoHA called on the media and the public to ensure that only factual and verified information is published and disseminated.
“The ministry has consistently adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of irregularities and criminal activities,” the statement continued. “It has also been undertaking policy-level and institutional reforms to enhance governance within the home administration.”
The statement further noted that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is currently conducting an investigation into the operations of the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office. The MoHA expressed confidence that the facts will be made public once the investigation is complete. “The ministry stands ready to fully cooperate with the CIAA in all matters related to the ongoing inquiry,” the statement concluded.
