Dharan: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has stated that although he believes Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak is innocent in the ongoing visit visa scandal, Lekhak should step aside from his ministerial duties if the investigation reaches him. Speaking at the second city conference organized by the Dharan Sub-metropolitan Congress Working Committee on Wednesday, Thapa emphasized the importance of political morality and supporting the investigation process.

Thapa said, “Honorable Ramesh Lekhak has carried out his responsibilities with honesty and efficiency. We are confident in his integrity. However, if the investigation touches the Home Minister, stepping aside from the post becomes a matter of political ethics, not just legality.”

He made it clear that everyone, regardless of rank or affiliation, must face the legal process if found guilty. “No one should escape. These acts of fraud, exploitation, and collusion by those responsible for civil security are not only illegal, but inhuman,” Thapa stressed.

He also underlined the growing seriousness of the issue, noting that “hundreds of Nepali citizens have been cheated in the name of visit visas,” revealing a vast and deeply rooted nexus. “The scale of this scandal and how far it has spread has shocked us all.”

Thapa called for legal and administrative reforms to stop such scams and urged the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to pursue a fair, pressure-free investigation. “The CIAA must get to the bottom of this. Whoever is involved—political or administrative, behind the scenes or visible—must be brought to justice.”

He also added that the public must not jump to conclusions or accuse individuals who have not been formally included in the investigation. “Until there is credible evidence linking someone to the case, it is neither legally sound nor morally fair to blame them.”

Thapa concluded by reiterating his party’s commitment to accountability, justice, and systemic reform in tackling corruption.