Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday briefed the House of Representatives on the mandate of the high-level investigation committee formed to examine irregularities in Nepal’s immigration and visa system, particularly in relation to the visit visa scandal that has recently drawn national attention.

Speaking during a special session of Parliament, Lekhak clarified that the committee would operate independently and would not obstruct the ongoing probe by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which is already looking into alleged corruption at Tribhuvan International Airport’s Immigration Office.

The controversy erupted after the CIAA raided the airport’s immigration office on May 22 following complaints of visit visa manipulation. Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the then-chief of the immigration office and a joint-secretary under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was detained by the anti-graft body, which claims to have uncovered evidence suggesting individuals were sent abroad on visit visas in exchange for large sums of money.

Bhattarai had been transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs just a day before his arrest—a move that has fuelled suspicions of political protection and raised questions about higher-level involvement. CIAA investigators have since begun looking into staff from Lekhak’s own secretariat, prompting demands for the minister to step down on moral grounds.

Lekhak, however, denied any involvement, insisting that there is no complaint or investigation against him. “How can I be held responsible for something I have not done?” he told the House. He argued that calls for his resignation were unfounded and politically motivated.

The newly formed high-level committee, chaired by former Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, has been tasked with studying Nepal’s immigration management system, including visa issuance, structural weaknesses, and the challenges faced by travellers. Its scope includes proposing short- and long-term legal, policy, and institutional reforms.

“The committee will review existing laws, regulations, and standards, and recommend amendments to ensure better oversight and transparency,” Lekhak said. It will also examine international best practices and suggest feasible solutions for Nepal, including the use of technology to streamline immigration procedures and improve data security.

Members of the committee include joint secretaries Tirtha Raj Chilwal (Finance), Aruna Joshi (Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs), Ram Krishna Lamichhane (Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation), Maniratna Koirala (Foreign Affairs), Pradeep Koirala (Labour, Employment and Social Security), and Anand Kafle from the Home Ministry.

The committee has been given three months to present a comprehensive report to the government, offering actionable recommendations to reform Nepal’s immigration framework and prevent future misuse of visit and other types of visas.