Passport Department Chief Tirtha Raj Aryal Arrested by CIAA

Tirtha Raj Aryal, the Director General of Nepal's Department of Passports, has been arrested by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in connection with a passport procurement case. Sources say businessman Siddhartha Thapa is also linked to the case.

The CIAA has been investigating irregularities in the purchase of passports. Thapa was the businessman who secured a deal worth over six billion rupees in the passport tender, a contract that drew attention due to alleged political connections. The arrest of the department's top official marks a significant escalation in the investigation. Further details are expected as the inquiry continues.