KATHMANDU: The Special Court has ordered the release of Siddhartha Thapa, who is among those charged in the high-profile passport procurement corruption case, on general bail date in pending trial.

A joint bench of Special Court judges Basudev Acharya and Hemant Rawal issued the order, allowing Thapa to remain free without detention while the case proceeds.

The case was filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority in Asar 2083 BS (June–July 2026), alleging corruption in the government’s passport procurement process.

The anti-graft body has sought recovery of Rs 10.13 billion from Thapa, claiming the amount as the alleged financial loss caused by the procurement irregularities.