Lekhanath Pandey

An ongoing probe has revealed the sale of two Machine Readable Passports to two Chinese-Tibetans and led to the confiscation of three MRPs from office assistant at the Division of Passport (DoP), Rajendra Acharya, who was plotting to sell them, too. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the case seriously, surprised as to how the Chinese got the Nepali passports, though sources claimed Acharya changed names and details of passport forms dispatched from the Sindhupalchowk District Administration Office (DAO) to deliver them to the Chinese.

According to sources, the story came to light after the two Chinese nationals, who had received Nepalis MRPs, got caught at the Tribhuvan International Airport last week while they were about to fly to the United States. Their identities are under wraps.

This case of MRP misuse has shocked the MoFA and the DoP. In its wake, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha conducted a surprise check at the DoP yesterday.

Shrestha also formed a five-member taskforce under the coordination of Chief of Protocol Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat for a full investigation of the case and detection of flaws in the MRPs printing and issuing process.

DPM Shrestha said he conducted a surprise check after receiving informatin about the forgery and commissioned a panel to probe the case. “We are at the initial phase of an investigation,” he told this daily. “We can share the details only after reaching the crux of this forgery.”

Another source said Acharya conceded to selling MRPs for Rs 22,000 each. He accepted he had three passports to sell to other Tibetans, which officials later seized. Surprisingly, Acharya has been ‘absconding’. The official said police are searching for him. Asked how it all happened, acting chief at DoP, Yadav Khanal, said he had heard about the case but expressed inability to share anything further, saying he is on leave.

Published on: 30 November 2012 | The Himalayan Times