Probe ordered as some delegates missing after PM Oli’s Spain visit

KATHMANDU: Amid growing reports that some individuals who accompanied Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on his recent visit to Spain have not returned to Nepal, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

In a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, Minister Lekhak directed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deepak Thapa to launch a detailed inquiry into those who traveled to Spain using visit visas.

Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi was also present at the meeting.

According to the Home Minister’s Secretariat, the investigation will look into how individuals, other than the official government delegation, managed to join the visit — including what process they followed, which organizations facilitated their travel, and what type of visa and arrangements were used.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau have been jointly assigned to carry out the investigation.

“If any individual is found to be involved in wrongdoing, legal action will be taken,” the Home Minister’s office stated.

Prime Minister Oli had departed for Spain on Asar 14 and returned on Asar 20. However, following the visit, Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Sobita Gautam raised questions in Parliament, claiming that some individuals who accompanied the Prime Minister had not returned.

Since then, various media outlets have reported suspicions that several delegates may have either gone missing or intentionally stayed back in Spain.