Nepal Deploys 45 New Officers at TIA Immigration Amid Visa Irregularities
In a major shake-up, Nepal’s Home Ministry has deployed 45 newly recruited officers to Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office after former chief was investigated for visa-related corruption.
Kathmandu — Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has reassigned 45 newly appointed section officers to the Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) following an ongoing corruption investigation involving the office’s former chief, Tirtha Bhattarai.
Bhattarai, a Joint Secretary, was accused of issuing visit visas in exchange for bribes, prompting an investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
In his place, the ministry has appointed Joint Secretary Narahari Ghimire, who formerly served as the CIAA’s spokesperson, to lead the immigration office.
According to Immigration Department Director Tikaram Dhakal, the officers — selected through Nepal’s Public Service Commission — were provided with a three-day orientation training before deployment. This marks one of the largest mass deployments aimed at improving integrity, transparency, and traveler service at Nepal’s only international gateway.
The Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has repeatedly emphasized that TIA is Nepal’s face to the world and urged civil servants to maintain discipline, coordination, and hospitality when dealing with both domestic and international travelers.
In response to the broader immigration and visa issues, the government has also formed a high-level investigation committee led by former Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi. The committee is tasked with recommending policy, legal, and institutional reforms to ensure a more transparent and secure immigration framework.