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Parallel probes by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is investigating posssible misuse of passports by lawmakers Prakash Pakhrin, Narad Muni Rana, Sabita Shah, Shiva Pujan Raya, Salma Khatun and Rambha Devi under investigations.[break]
Raya has alreasy been asked to furnish his passport last week after strong evidence surfaced against him, according to officials.
The lawmakers are implicated by some crucial documents found during a raid at the residence of Santosh Raj Uprety, one of the lynchpins in the red passport racket. The documents included photocopies of the lawmakers´ passports, citizenship certificates, CA identity cards and forged correspondence material in their names.
The raid at Uprety´s residence at New Baneshwor was carried out one-and-a-half months ago by the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), which had been tracking down Uprety on the basis of a complaint filed by Sah herself who, officials said, also tipped him off about the police movements. Investigative officials had found constant phone contacts between Uprety and Yadav while Sah was going around the police offices with her complaint.
Officials believe that if Uprety and members of his racket are arrested, the scam could expose much more. Police also identified a former Nepal Police officer as being closely associated with Uprety. “We once called him here and he promised to help in the investigations,” officials said. “But he has not been in contact since.”
TIA immigration officials who helped the racketeers with departures and post-deportation arrangements for the two persons carrying Sah´s and Yadav´s tampered red passports have also been identified. “A little more work will enable us to nab those officials,” said CIB sources.
Investigations into the scam suffered much because of lack of cooperation from immigration officials. They had reportedly let Printivi Chantyal and the unidentified woman go after they were deported from Abu Dhabi while on their way to Australia with the lawmakers´ red passports.
Shah, Yadav remanded for 4 days
Kathmandu District Court on Wednesday remanded lawmakers Gyatri Sah and BP Yadav for four days on charges of misusing and tampering with their red passports.
Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu (MPRK) had registered separate cases against them as per the Passport Act BS 2024.
The lawmakers were arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Tuesday.
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