Former Prime Minister of Nepal K.P. Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested Saturday in connection with the alleged suppression of last year’s Gen Z protests.
The arrests came after the Home Ministry filed a formal complaint and obtained warrants, triggering an investigation into culpable homicide charges related to the September 2025 protests, officials said.
Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, following a police operation that deployed teams in the area, while Lekhak was detained earlier the same morning from his home in Suryabinayak, according to his personal secretary, Janak Bhattarai.
The move marks the first major enforcement action under recommendations from the Gauri Bahadur Karki‑led inquiry commission, which probed the two‑day Gen Z uprising that left scores dead and sparked widespread arson and looting.
The commission report recommended criminal prosecution of Oli, Lekhak and then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code, covering negligent and reckless acts resulting in death.
Under Section 181, a person who causes death by a negligent act may face three to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 rupees. Section 182, addressing reckless or willful acts, allows up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 30,000 rupees.
Police officials said the present investigation is being carried out to implement the commission’s recommendations and maintain accountability for the use of force during the protests.
In the hours leading up to the arrests, security was tightened across the Kathmandu Valley, and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung held late‑night consultations with senior security chiefs on the operation, officials said.
The detentions have intensified political debate in Nepal over the balance between crowd control and the right to peaceful assembly, as the newly formed government signals a shift toward legal accountability for past protest‑related violence.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
