The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has summoned former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba for questioning over alleged corruption in a passport printing contract.
The anti-graft body served the notice on Tuesday to her personal secretary, Bhanu Deuba, at the Deuba residence in Budhanilkantha, as Arzu is currently in Hong Kong with her husband, former Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The notice orders her to appear at the CIAA headquarters in Tangal, Kathmandu, within three days, excluding travel time.
The investigation centers on allegations of corruption and collusion, where the contract was reportedly awarded at an inflated price during her tenure as Foreign Minister. The CIAA has already detained and is interrogating four key individuals, including Director General of the Department of Passports, Tirtha Raj Aryal, and Manindra Raj Malla, CEO of Namaste Global Common Pvt Ltd, the local agent for the German company Muhlbauer ID Services, which won the contract.
"In connection with the investigation into complaints of corruption-related offenses regarding passport printing, where the Government of Nepal is the plaintiff and Arzu Rana Deuba et al are the defendants, your statement is required. You are hereby notified to appear at Division No 12, Room No 1 of this Commission in Tangal, Kathmandu, within 3 days of receiving this notice... failing which actions will proceed according to the law," reads the notice issued by the anti-graft body.
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