Birgunj Mayor Rajeshman Singh Faces Document Fraud Case

Questions over the integrity of official records and local governance have intensified in Birgunj after a criminal case was filed against Mayor Rajeshman Singh and three others over allegations of falsified citizenship and passport documents.

The case, registered Friday at the Parsa District Court, centers on claims that false personal details were used to obtain birth registration, citizenship papers and eventually a passport for a girl allegedly presented under fabricated family ties. The controversy has drawn attention not only because of the nature of the accusations, but also because it involves individuals linked directly to the local administrative system responsible for maintaining public records.

Government prosecutors have named Mayor Singh, Rita Bhattarai of Indrawati Rural Municipality-10 in Sindhupalchok, Rubina Shrestha, and former Birgunj Metropolitan registration officer Bhikhari Rai as defendants in the case. Court registrar Prabhakar Kumar Mallik confirmed that charges were filed under Section 41 of Nepal’s National Penal Code 2017, which deals with offenses related to forged or false documents.

Allegations linked to birth registration and citizenship process

According to the charge sheet filed in court, the case stems from allegations that false information was submitted at Ward No. 3 of Birgunj Metropolitan City to secure official identity documents.

Investigators claim that on Magh 20, 2071 BS, Mayor Singh presented Rita Bhattarai as his wife and completed the birth registration of Rubina. Based on that registration, citizenship documents were later obtained on Shrawan 10, 2075 BS, followed shortly by the issuance of a passport.

Authorities argue that the entire process relied on inaccurate or misleading information entered into government records, raising concerns about how sensitive state documents were approved and processed.

Separate charges also filed

The government prosecutor’s office has also filed three additional cases connected to the same controversy.

One of those cases targets Rubina Shrestha under the Crime Victim Protection Act 2018, seeking either up to six months of imprisonment or placement in a juvenile correction facility.

Another case relates to allegedly obtaining citizenship documents through false declarations, while a separate passport-related charge seeks penalties ranging from Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 along with one to three years in prison if convicted.

The court is expected to begin preliminary proceedings before summoning the accused for statements and further hearings.

Administrative credibility under scrutiny

The case has triggered wider discussion in Birgunj and beyond over accountability within local governments, especially in matters involving citizenship records and civil documentation.

Citizenship and passport documents remain among the most sensitive state-issued identities in Nepal, and any allegation involving manipulation of such records often carries broader political and institutional implications.

With a sitting metropolitan mayor now facing document-related criminal charges, the proceedings are likely to remain under close public and political scrutiny in the coming weeks.