Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has instructed Nepal Police chief and home ministry officials to expedite investigation into allegations that some Nepalis reached Spain purportedly to participate in an event also attended by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli a few weeks ago and didn’t return home.

The instruction comes amid mounting political pressure as opposition political parties have demanded investigation into the alleged incident, suspecting involvement of government officials in trafficking people under the guise of participating in the international event.

On Monday, Minister Lekhak instructed Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi and Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa, along with chiefs of various investigation agencies of the Nepal Police, to investigate the matter.

“I direct an investigation to find out the individuals, apart from the official delegation, who accompanied the prime minister during the visit to Spain, and under what procedure, and through which organisations they reached there,” Minister Lekhak told top officials at a meeting organised at the home ministry, according to an official privy to the meeting. “The investigation will also uncover who arranged for the visit visas.”

The Central Investigation Bureau and the Anti Human Trafficking Bureau of the Nepal Police have been deployed to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Those found guilty will face legal action,” Lekhak added.

The CIB is yet to formally start investigation on this issue, said CIB Spokesperson Yubaraj Khadka.

Prime Minister Oli visited Spain on June 28 to attend the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) held from June 30 to July 3.

Lawmakers from some opposition parties have also linked the prime minister himself in the case.

When the opposition lawmakers tried to link the prime minister by claiming that he left behind a few people who had accompanied him during his visit, Oli described it as propaganda against him.

Addressing a function in Damak, Jhapa on Sunday, Oli said that some opposition and anarchic elements were raising the issue as they had nothing else to criticise him.

“Such an accusation does not warrant even a response,” Prime Minister Oli said.

Oli led a 21-member official delegation to the high-level development summit.

Some individuals who had travelled to Spain as supposed participants of the UN event are now unaccounted for. Some are suspected to have already fled to other European countries.

A group is reportedly involved in preparing forged documents through non-governmental channels to smuggle people into Europe.

Tikaram Dhakal, information officer at the immigration department, said that scores of people had received visas to attend the programme Prime Minister Oli participated in.

“While all the official delegates have returned, we are unsure whether other people who had obtained the visit visa purportedly to participate in the programme have returned,” Dhakal said.

Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Sobita Gautam raised the issue in a Parliament meeting on July 8.

“News reports have stated that some individuals who claimed to be participating in the same event which was attended by the prime minister in Spain have not returned. We are not accusing anyone in particular, but this is a serious issue,” Gautam said in the House of Representatives.

The issue drew wider attention after other lawmakers chimed in, including CPN (Maoist Centre) chair and leader of the main opposition Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who, speaking at the House on Monday, sought the government’s answer on this issue.