The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case at the Special Court against Passport Department Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal, 16 other individuals, and related companies over alleged irregularities in the passport printing procurement process.

The anti-corruption body has sought recovery of Rs 10.13 billion from Aryal, IT Director Sunil Kumar KC, former Director Shatrudhwan Prasad Sharma Pokharel, Director Rabindra Rajbhandari, Accounts Officer Tulsi Prasad Acharya, Computer Engineer Bipin Prasai, and Section Officer Somesh Thapa, among others.

Former Foreign Ministry officials Rajaram Dahal, Pushkar Raj Nepal, and Bhesh Prasad Bhurtel have also been named in the case.

CIAA has additionally sought Rs 8.22 billion in damages from Siddhartha Thapa, the Nepal representative of German contractor Veridos GmbH, and Rs 1.90 billion from Manindra Raj Malla, the Nepal representative of Muehlbauer.

According to the investigation, serious irregularities and collusion occurred from the initial bidding stage. Officials and supplier companies allegedly manipulated technical and financial evaluations in violation of procurement laws to provide unlawful benefits and cause substantial losses to the state.

The CIAA has demanded recovery of losses, fines, and imprisonment as provided under anti-corruption laws.