Home Ministry Employee Arrested for Pressuring Visa Approvals Using Minister and Secretary’s Names

Nirmal Bista, an employee of Home Ministry, has been arrested for allegedly pressuring officials to allow individuals to travel abroad on visit visas. He purportedly invoked the names of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane and Home Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal to influence decisions.

Chief Immigration Officer Suresh Panthi at Tribhuvan International Airport resisted Bista’s demands to overlook travel regulations for 20 individuals on July 5. Panthi promptly reported the incident to the ministry, exposing Bista’s actions.

In response, Home Secretary Aryal dismissed Bista from service on July 9. Bista was apprehended at the Home Ministry premises while attempting to delay proceedings. He is now in police custody under suspicion of involvement in illegal human trafficking.

Bista, who had been a computer operator at the Home Ministry since 2018, faces further investigation by the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau.