Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak were taken into custody on Saturday as investigators examine their roles in last September’s anti-corruption demonstrations that turned deadly, authorities said. Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari said legal steps will follow over their alleged failure to prevent the unrest. “They were arrested this morning and the process will move forward according to the law,” Adhikari said.
A government-appointed panel this week recommended prosecuting Oli, 74, for negligence in handling the protests, which authorities say left 76 people dead over two days and led to his resignation. The arrests came one day after Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister following Nepal’s first election after the 2025 uprising.
The so-called Gen Z protests began after Oli’s government imposed a social media ban and were sustained by broader anger over corruption and economic problems. Tens of thousands demonstrated, and the unrest prompted widespread demands for accountability.
A government-backed report recommended charges against Oli and other officials. While it found no clear evidence that leaders ordered security forces to open fire, the report concluded authorities failed to stop or control shootings that resulted in civilian deaths, including minors.
Newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung, who played a prominent role in the protests, posted on Instagram that the arrests were a step toward accountability: “No one is above the law… This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice. I believe, now the country will take a new direction.”