KATHMANDU: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case in the Special Court against 18 individuals, including Tirtha Raj Aryal, the Director General of the Department of Passports.

Alongside Director General Aryal, the anti-graft body has indicted Information Technology Officer Sunil Kumar KC, Accounting Officer Tulsi Prasad Acharya, and local representatives of the German company Mühlbauer, among others.

CIAA spokesperson Rajendra Kumar Poudel stated that the commission is seeking a total fine and recovery amount of Rs 10.13 billion from the defendants.

The case stems from a tender called by the Department of Passports in November 2024 for the printing of 6.4 million passport booklets.

A complaint was filed at the CIAA alleging financial irregularities in the procurement process after Idemia, a French company participating in the bidding, was sidelined.

Amid allegations of delayed investigations, high-profile figures—including Asim Shah, the personal secretary to Prime Minister Balendra Shah—had reportedly exerted pressure on the CIAA leadership to expedite the case.