KATHMANDU, July 2: Nepal Police has begun looking into allegations against Sumire Tours and Travels, a Kathmandu-based company accused of defrauding thousands of individuals by collecting billions of rupees under the pretext of arranging visit visas to Japan.
The Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police initiated a probe in the case after the issue was raised in the House of Representatives, with lawmakers alleging the company has been sending Nepali nationals to Japan on visit visas for the past 10 years. “We’ve been monitoring the case for the past two days, but no concrete evidence has been found so far,” a senior police official said.
Speaking at a meeting of the HoR on June 28, lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada of Okhaldhunga claimed that Sumire Tours and Travels had swindled billions from Nepalis over the past decade in the name of Japan visit visas. Following his remarks, the Human Trafficking Bureau began informal inquiries, although no formal case has been registered.
Despite growing concerns, DIG Binod Ghimire, who is also the spokesperson for Nepal Police, clarified that no complaints have been filed against the company. “The police do pay attention to such matters, but no official complaint has been received so far in this case. We do not investigate every issue that is raised in Parliament,” Ghimire said.
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According to police sources, they have shifted their focus to gathering details directly from the travel agency rather than from the Department of Immigration. However, no substantial material has been found till date.
Speaking during the House session, lawmaker Khatiwada demanded an impartial investigation into the matter. He alleged that certain individuals were using money earned from such fraudulent schemes to secure parliamentary seats and that some members, linked to such activities, occasionally disrupt House proceedings.
“Who owns Sumire Tours and Travels? For the past decade, this company has been sending thousands of people to Japan under the guise of visit visas, collecting billions and then buying political influence. These same individuals often show up in parliament and create chaos. We need a fair investigation and legal action,” Khatiwada said.
In response, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker and Acting Party President Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal demanded the Speaker remove Khatiwada’s remarks from the parliamentary record. “We have been protesting human trafficking under the guise of visit visas for 33 days. While we work to build an honest society, those who have exploited the country’s resources now target us with baseless accusations,” Aryal said.
Aryal objected to the alleged association of his company, Sumire Tours and Travels, with wrongdoing. “Yes, Sumire Tours and Travels is my company. I am someone trying to make an honest living in this country, not someone who steals,” Aryal declared in Parliament. “If anyone claims we took money and failed to deliver services, I challenge them to present evidence. Otherwise, I demand that the Speaker strike these baseless accusations from the record.”
Aryal also accused some of his critics of having a questionable past. “Some who once faked documents and spent nights in detention are now sitting in this Parliament pointing fingers at others. If given a visa, they would flee the country themselves,” he said.
Amid the escalating political tension, a formal complaint has now been filed with the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, seeking an investigation into Aryal over alleged misuse of visit visas and human trafficking.
The complaint was lodged by Yuvraj Saphal, following Aryal’s admission in the House session on June 29 that he is the director of Sumire Tours and Travels and has been facilitating travel to Japan under visit visas for several years.
