CIAA intensifies investigation into fake driving licenses scam

Published On: August 25, 2024 03:15 PM NPT By: Tapendra Karki

KATHMANDU, Aug 25: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has reached the final stage of its investigation into the distribution of over 100,000 fake driving licenses. According to sources at the CIAA, the investigation has moved into its final phase. “The investigation, which is based on licenses issued to people who were investigated by the police and those who were abroad at various times and then returned, is now in its final stage,” said a source at the CIAA.

According to sources at the CIAA, around 350 employees involved in the fake license distribution case are under investigation. The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has provided details related to the fake licenses to the CIAA. The CIAA is conducting its investigation by seeking all relevant documents and information from the DoTM.

An internal investigation by the DoTM has revealed that 100,000 licenses are fake. The DoTM's investigation shows that from 2015 to 2023, licenses were issued in the names of 102,000 individuals who had not passed the written and trial exams.

Based on the DoTM's investigation report, the CIAA has initiated its own investigation. In addition to the CUAA, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has also conducted an investigation into the matter and has filed a case at the Kathmandu District Court against those it found guilty.

Some of those charged by the police are in custody, while others have been released on bail. The CIAA, which is investigating the fake license issuance case, has obtained details of employees ranging from the Director General of the DoTM to lower-level staff. Sources have indicated that the first phase of questioning has been completed.

At the CIAA's request, the DoTM sent details of employees involved in the distribution of fake licenses. According to DoTM sources, both permanent and contractual employees have been identified as involved. The DoTM's own investigation has revealed that fake licenses were issued from transport offices across the country.

The CIAA has obtained details of employees from transport offices across the country. The investigation report indicates that employees exploited weaknesses in the DoTM's Electronic Driving License and Vehicle Registration System to issue fake licenses. This report was also submitted to the then prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Although a report from the security audit team led by Director General Prem Sharan Shrestha of the Department of Information Technology indicated weaknesses in the system, relevant authorities have yet to address these issues. After discovering that over 100,000 licenses were fake, the government conducted a system audit.

The system audit took two months to complete. The 'Technical Security Audit' mentioned that the license system could be hacked, potentially allowing the biometric details of Nepali citizens to be stolen at any time. Sources claim that the CIAA is also concerned about this issue.

The CIB has already filed two cases related to fake licenses at the Kathmandu District Court. One case involves the death of a passenger caused by a vehicle driven by a person with a fake license, with seven defendants including the driver. The other case concerns the printing of licenses based on fake documents, with an additional seven people named as defendants. The CIB filed these cases on May 15.

The CIB has informed the CIAA about the study report and the cases filed. The DoTM had already sent its investigation report to the CIAA.

Sources claim that the CIAA may call former directors of the DoTM for questioning during the investigation. The CIB has filed charges against Keshab Aryal, under secretary at the Transport Management Office in Butwal, as well as Laxman Pandey, Gyanraj Pandey, Narayan Prasad Pandey, Padam Raj Acharya, and Subas Paudel, non-gazetted officers (fifth level), for their involvement in the case.

Similarly, cases have been filed against Ramkrishna Shrestha, former Computer Officer at the Transport Management Office in Kawasoti, Nawalparasi; Binod Bhandari, Computer Operator at the Transport Management Office in Kaski; Rajesh Lamsal, non-commissioned officer at the Transport Management Office in Chitwan; Bibek Bhandari, Computer Operator at the Transport Management Office in Jhapa; and Dilip Kumar Shah, Computer Operator at the Transport Management Office in Dhanusha.