KATHMANDU: Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, Joint Secretary at the Home Ministry and former Chief Immigration Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport, was arrested by police Wednesday following a Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) probe into alleged links with a human trafficking ring.

Bhattarai had only been transferred to the Home Ministry the previous evening. Prior to that, he was the head of the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport, where the CIAA launched a raid shortly before his arrest.

The CIAA initiated the raid after receiving multiple complaints about officials collecting large sums of money and illegally facilitating foreign travel on visit visas.

During the operation, the CIAA seized computers, mobile phones, and other devices from the immigration office for detailed investigation. According to sources, investigators uncovered evidence suggesting Bhattarai’s collusion with a human trafficking gang.

His mobile phone, now in CIAA custody, reportedly contains crucial information related to the case. Official documents have also been secured as part of the ongoing probe.

The Home Ministry had been alerted to the issue, prompting Bhattarai’s transfer just a day before his detention. The CIAA team continues to conduct raids at the immigration office, while airport officials have refrained from commenting on the situation.