Home Ministry transfers 9 officials amid visa scam allegations

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred nine government employees, including Joint Secretary Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, following complaints of misconduct involving visit visas.

According to the ministry, Prem Prasad Paudel and Birbhadra Joshi, both serving as Nayab Subba (non-gazetted officers), have been transferred to the District Administration Office in Kathmandu, while Narbahadur Thapa has been reassigned to the District Administration Office in Banke.

Additionally, Assistant Computer Operator Kamala Shrestha, Computer Operators Uden Subedi, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Pawan Gurung, and Dhanraj Upadhyay have been transferred to the Department of Prison Management or its subordinate offices.

This action comes a day after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) detained Bhattarai, who also serves as an immigration officer.

The CIAA has confirmed that further investigation into the matter is ongoing.