Fake passport: Nepal promises action

FAKE PASSPORT CASE: The CBI is looking to investigate officials of the Nepal embassy.

Other stories in the section:

Singur speed-breaker gone, way clear for Nano

Mamata, Buddhadeb agree to hammer out differences over farmland.

• Nano saga: twists and turns so far

• AIIMS gets clean chit for clinical trials report

Featured Blog

Rajdeep Sardesai

Tale of Two Azmis

Featured Slideshows

Related Headlines

powered by

• Katara's bank accounts in Dahod frozen
• BJP MP arrested on impersonation charges
• More MPs caught in traffic(ing) jam

Keywords: Delhi, Special Investigation

New Delhi: A day after the IBN network expose on how easy it is to get a visa or a passport for a most wanted terrorist, the CBI is looking to investigate officials of the Nepal embassy in New Delhi.

The CBI believes its not just individuals who maybe involved.

Delhi's busy Barakhamba road and the Nepal Embassy - the CBI suspects that elements in the visa or consular sections of the embassy may be involved in the fake passport racket exposed by CNN-IBN.

CBI sources said their suspicions are based on the number of Nepali passports seized from the tout who was the subject of the CNN-IBN expose.

Over the next two days the CBI says he will be questioned about his sources in Delhi and also in Nepal especially Kathmandu where passports are issued.

Former RAW chief A K Verma said, "In this activity it is not only individuals who take part but also state organs. They themselves sometimes manufacture fake passports, and put stamps or visas on them and use them as genuine passports."

Another line of the CBI investigation is the Indian Ministry of External Affair's passport office as the tout also had an Indian passport with him.

The probe is therefore likely to cover districts adjoining Nepal where all kinds of illegal activities are known to take place largely because of the open nature of the border. In this context, social scientists blame Nepal's systemic problems.

Saibal Gupta of Asian Development Institute said, "The state system has practically collapsed and there has been huge de-stabilisation in the last few days. The monarchy created lots of problems, the democratic government is yet to put its feet firmly."

Nepal government sources told CNN-IBN they were shocked by the report and have promised an investigation. But the scandal will reinforce the impression that Nepal is convenient sanctuary for activities directed against India.