National Identity Card Employees Accused Of Altering Citizens’ Data, Case Filed Against Six

Kathmandu: A case has been filed against six people, including two employees, at the Kathmandu District Court on charges of illegally altering citizens’ personal details by gaining unauthorized access to the National Identity Card Information Management System of the National Identity Card and Registration Department.

Government investigation has found that data entry operators working at the department misused user IDs and passwords of other employees to enter false details and tamper with the government’s sensitive data repository.

According to the charge sheet filed by the District Government Attorney’s Office, Kathmandu, the accused who have been arrested are 28-year-old Sunit Prabhat Regmi and 28-year-old Ashish Babu Kumaal, both working as data entry operators at the department. Four others; Sagar Gurung, Sudip Gurung, Anudip Gurung, and Anup Bhandari are absconding. Investigators say the absconding suspects were attempting to obtain national identity cards using fake details.

How Was The Digital Data Altered?

The investigation found that the accused used the department’s internal network and a specific IP address to access the system without authorization. They allegedly misused the user IDs and passwords of department employees Abhiyan Dahal and Shrishti Adhikari.

Police say the accused deleted or rejected genuine citizens’ records and approved new entries by replacing names, photos, and personal details. In some cases, they attempted to issue new identity cards despite biometric data such as fingerprints and iris scans not matching.

The investigation states that a national identity card issued in the name of Manraj Rai was illegally updated to the name of Sagar Gurung using Abhiyan Dahal’s user ID. Similarly, the identity card record of Vivek Roka was deleted and replaced with Sudip Gurung’s details. Police also suspect that Sudip Gurung may have obtained a second Nepali citizenship using Vivek Roka’s identity. In another case, records under the name of Nirajen Raj Rai were removed and replaced with Anudip Gurung’s details.

Investigators say the accused misused employee IDs when the actual users were absent from the office or deployed in other districts. The fraud came to light after the department’s biometric verification system flagged suspicious data.

CCTV footage from the department further supports the allegations. The footage shows that the timing of data approval matches the time when Sunit Prabhat Regmi and Ashish Babu Kumal entered the upper floor of the office. Records show they arrived at the office at 7:07 am and proceeded upstairs.

Police have also conducted forensic examinations of Samsung and Apple mobile phones seized from the accused. Call detail records show frequent contact between the arrested and absconding suspects. Messages recovered from Ashish Babu Kumal’s phone suggest the act may have been carried out for financial gain.

Statements Of Employees And Accused

In his statement, Sunit Prabhat Regmi admitted being present at the office that morning but denied involvement in data alteration. He claimed he went upstairs only to smoke and meet a friend. Ashish Babu Kumal also denied carrying out any unauthorized activity.

Employee Abhiyan Dahal stated that data was approved from his user ID while he was deployed for work in Gorkha and Morang, without his knowledge. Another employee, Shrishti Adhikari, said records were altered using her ID in her absence and that her signature was not present on the approvals.

Demand For Prison Sentence And Fine

The government prosecutor has filed the case under Section 41(1)(a) of the National Identity Card and Registration Act, 2076, which treats the destruction, alteration, or creation of false information in the national identity database as a serious offense.

If found guilty, the accused may face five to ten years in prison and a fine ranging from Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million. The prosecution has also sought compensation to be deposited in the Victim Relief Fund under the Crime Victim Protection Act, 2075.

The case has raised serious concerns about Nepal’s digital security and the integrity of government data systems. Police say the search for the four absconding suspects is ongoing, along with further investigation into possible cases of second citizenship obtained using false identities.

 

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