The director general of Nepal’s Department of Passports, Tirtha Raj Aryal, was detained at Kathmandu airport on Tuesday. The arrest is connected to an investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) into potential irregularities surrounding a procurement contract related to passport services. Details of the contract and the specific allegations have not yet been publicly released. Aryal was taken into custody as part of the CIAA’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption within government procurement processes. The investigation focuses on potential misconduct during the awarding or execution of the passport-related deal. Further information is expected as the CIAA continues its inquiry and prepares potential charges. This arrest signals a heightened focus on accountability within Nepal’s public sector.