Kathmandu — Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has indicated that senior political leaders could face not only passport restrictions but also arrests if ongoing investigations into corruption and financial crimes demand it.
Government’s Position on Investigations and Good Governance
Speaking briefly to journalists outside Singha Durbar, Aryal stressed that the law allows stronger measures than just travel bans. “Whatever action the law requires will be carried out. It may not stop at restricting passports—arrests could be made to record statements if necessary,” he said.
He added that state investigative bodies are already active and no unlawful activity will be overlooked. Aryal further emphasized the administration’s stance on accountability: “If a government with a five-year mandate fails to act against corruption, its legitimacy will be questioned. That is why we will move firmly,” he said.
Government spokesperson and ICT Minister Jagdish Kharel also confirmed that authorities are assessing whether to suspend leaders’ passports. According to him, state mechanisms are examining cases tied to corruption, irregularities, and financial crimes.
Passport Controversy and Legal Provisions
It has come to light that Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, recently acquired new passports, already carrying Thai visas. Their earlier documents were believed lost or destroyed during the September 9 arson attack at their Budhanilkantha residence.
Officials have been warned about possible foreign travel, prompting vigilance from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI), Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and the Department of Passports.
Section 12 of the Passport Act 2019 allows investigators to suspend or withhold passports in corruption or money laundering cases. Recently, DMLI teams searched the homes of Deuba and former Energy Minister Deepak Khadka after viral videos showed cash being handled on the premises. Protesters had also been filmed throwing money outside Khadka’s residence, triggering further scrutiny.
