Kathmandu – Nepal’s e-passport procurement project has taken a diplomatic turn after Germany raised concerns over the corruption case filed against German company Veridos GmbH, one of the firms involved in the passport procurement process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany’s Federal Foreign Ministry recently summoned Nepal’s Charg\u00e9 d’Affaires in Berlin, Sagar Prasad Phuyal for discussions on bilateral issues including the passport procurement matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to sources, German officials said the corruption charges against Veridos were not supported by concrete evidence and expressed concern that the case had harmed the company’s reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to Kathmandupati, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said Nepal and Germany have long maintained close and cooperative relations and that such diplomatic meetings are regular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chhetri said the discussions covered “various issues, including passports” but rejected media reports claiming Germany had handed over a diplomatic note, calling such reports “untrue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the passport procurement case, he said the matter is “currently sub judice” and will be resolved “in accordance with Nepal’s laws.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources also said Germany warned that terminating the existing contract could expose Nepal to legal action and compensation claims for financial losses and reputational damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Special Court continues hearing bail applications from those charged in the corruption case. Those seeking bail include Department of Passports Director General Tirtha Raj Aryal, several department officials, and businessman Manindra Malla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the legal dispute, officials say passport supplies remain sufficient. Around 70,000 passport booklets are currently available while another 19,000 are expected from IDEMIA as compensation for previously damaged passports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case has added legal, financial and diplomatic pressure on the government as it prepares to launch the new e-passport system tentatively scheduled for the second week of July.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kathmandu – Nepal’s e-passport procurement project has taken a diplomatic turn after Germany raised concerns over the corruption case filed against German company Veridos GmbH, one of the firms involved in the passport procurement process. Germany’s Federal Foreign Ministry recently summoned Nepal’s Charg\u00e9 d’Affaires in Berlin, Sagar Prasad Phuyal for discussions on bilateral issues including […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diplomacy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n