Kathmandu, June 24 -- Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday briefed the House of Representatives on the mandate of the high-level investigation committee formed to examine irregularities in Nepal's immigration and visa system, particularly in relation to the visit visa scandal that has recently drawn national attention.

Speaking during a special session of Parliament, Lekhak clarified that the committee would operate independently and would not obstruct the ongoing probe by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which is already looking into alleged corruption at Tribhuvan International Airport's Immigration Office.

The controversy erupted after the CIAA raided the airport's immigration office on May 22 follo...