KATHMANDU, June 18: Nepal’s expanding investigation into alleged irregularities in the e-passport and passport printing procurement process has gathered pace, with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) summoning both foreign contractors and a former foreign minister for statements.
In a public notice published in a national newspaper, the anti-graft body directed representatives of two German firms involved in Nepal’s electronic Machine Readable Travel Documents (eMRTD) project to appear before it, either physically or virtually, within the stipulated time.
The companies—Mühlbauer ID Services and Veridos—were awarded key contracts under Nepal’s e-passport system, which has been under scrutiny for its procurement structure and contract execution.
CIAA summons former FM Dr Arzu Rana in passport printing corrup...
The anti-graft body has named two representatives each from the firms: Gerhard Maurer and Pavli (Pavle) Rakic of Mühlbauer, and Fabiola Bellersheim and Florian Paquellin of Veridos. The individuals have already been notified via email, according to the notice.
Under Package 1 of the project, Mühlbauer is responsible for pre-enrolment, enrolment and data management systems, while Veridos, under Package 2, handles passport personalization, quality control and packaging systems.
In a parallel development, the CIAA has also summoned former Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba to appear before its headquarters in Tangal within three days to record her statement in connection with alleged corruption in passport printing-related procurement.
According to a separate notice issued on June 16, Deuba has been directed to appear at Division No. 12 of the commission. The notice was affixed at her residence in Budhanilkantha after it could not be served directly.
“As your statement is required during the investigation of a complaint related to corruption in passport printing-related work, you are requested to appear… Failure to appear will result in action in accordance with the law,” the CIAA notice states.
Deuba, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress, is currently outside the country citing medical reasons.
The anti-corruption body has not disclosed the specific allegations or her alleged role, but the summons comes amid a broader investigation into procurement and management of Nepal’s electronic passport system—an issue that has drawn sustained public and institutional scrutiny over the years.
The CIAA has warned that failure to comply with its summons could result in legal action under prevailing anti-corruption laws, signalling an increasingly active phase of its inquiry into one of the country’s most sensitive digital governance projects.
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