Arzu Deuba brought under probe in passport procurement case
The notice was reportedly served after officials were unable to find family members at the residence, and the information was communicated via his personal secretary.
KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has expanded its investigation into alleged irregularities in Nepal’s e-passport procurement process, placing former Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba under its scrutiny.
According to sources, a CIAA team on Wednesday served a summons at the Budhanilkantha residence of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, requiring Dr. Deuba to appear for questioning.
The notice was reportedly served after officials were unable to find family members at the residence, and the information was communicated via his personal secretary.
The anti-graft body is investigating suspected irregularities in the procurement of e-passport systems, including allegations that the bidding process was influenced to favor a company despite technical and financial discrepancies.
Complaints filed with the CIAA claim that the procurement process was manipulated during the design of tender packages and coordination among involved companies, leading to significant financial loss to the state.
It is also alleged that improper evaluation allowed firms proposing less suitable technical solutions to qualify, resulting in an estimated cost difference of around Rs 100 million.
The complaint further alleges that the overall procurement irregularities may have caused additional state expenditure of nearly Rs 1 billion.
Although investigators have stated that no direct written directive or formal decision by the then Foreign Minister has been found in official procurement documents, the CIAA is reportedly examining possible indirect involvement based on evidence from document reviews, technical assessments, and communication records.
Individuals linked to the process, including Dr. Deuba’s son Jaybir Singh Deuba, have also been named in complaints.
As part of the ongoing probe, the CIAA has already detained and questioned several officials, including senior officers from the Department of Passports and representatives of private contractors involved in the project.
More than 40 individuals are believed to be under investigation.
Officials indicate that the investigation is in its final stages, with a decision on whether to file charges expected early next week.
The case has drawn renewed public attention after the Prime Minister’s Office reportedly reviewed the procurement files, prompting accelerated action from the anti-corruption body.
