Digital forensic report received for 5 phones, including one used by Under-Secretary Bhattarai.



 Kathmandu, June 5


Nepal’s anti-corruption agency (CIAA) has received a digital forensic report from five mobile phones, including those of Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, who was in charge of the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport.


The CIAA is investigating a case where young people going abroad on visit visas were reportedly being extorted. During the investigation, they took 16 phones from several people. Bhattarai had three phones—his personal phone, a government phone, and another he was using.


A CIAA source said the forensic report from five phones came in on Tuesday, and they’re now analyzing the data. Officials believe Bhattarai’s phones could contain important evidence.


CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Paudel confirmed that some of the digital reports have arrived, but others are still on the way.


The CIAA raided the airport immigration office on May 21 after hearing reports of large-scale extortion. Bhattarai was briefly held during the raid, and his devices were taken. He was released after initial questioning, but formal interrogation began this week. Around the same time, Bhattarai was suddenly transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs.


Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said the transfer was needed to continue the investigation properly.


CIAA officials believe that over Rs 10 million (about $75,000) is being illegally collected every day from people applying for visit visas.


One officer said that if strong evidence is found, it could uncover the full extent of the corruption at the airport.


Meanwhile, opposition parties are demanding that Minister Lekhak resign, pointing to Bhattarai’s sudden transfer and other suspicious people in the ministry. But the ruling parties, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, have rejected those demands.

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