Kathmandu, March 28 : In a dramatic turn of events early Saturday morning, Nepali authorities apprehended former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli along with former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. Both leaders are now facing serious allegations related to culpable homicide, stemming from their alleged roles in quashing the September Gen Z demonstrations.
Law enforcement officials took Oli into custody directly from his home located in Gundu, Bhaktapur, following a significant police deployment in the vicinity. Just hours earlier, around 5:00 AM, police had also moved in on Lekhak, a prominent figure in the Nepali Congress, arresting him at his Suryabinayak residence, according to his personal secretary, Janak Bhatta.
These sweeping arrests were set into motion after the Home Ministry lodged a formal complaint and secured the necessary arrest warrants. The entire operation is a direct result of recommendations laid out by a special commission spearheaded by Gauri Bahadur Karki, a former Special Court judge.
The Karki-led commission advised that criminal charges be brought against Oli, Lekhak, and Chandra Kuber Khapung, who served as the Inspector General of Police at the time. Citing Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code, the report accused them of gross negligence and recklessness. Specifically, it highlighted their failure to act on advance intelligence warning of escalating tensions—an oversight that tragically culminated in multiple fatalities during the youth-led protests.
To execute these high-stakes arrests, officers from the Valley Police Office and the Bhaktapur District Police Range were dispatched in force. Meanwhile, security measures were noticeably ramped up throughout the Kathmandu Valley to prevent any potential fallout or unrest.
The legal groundwork for this move was solidified late Friday night when Law Secretary Parashwor Dhungana and Home Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha visited the Police Headquarters to deliver the required written authorization. Preceding the operation, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung was locked in late-night strategy meetings with top security brass.
Ultimately, the green light came straight from the top. A Cabinet meeting, chaired by current Prime Minister Balendra Shah, made the decisive call to act on the Karki commission’s findings, clearing the path for these unprecedented legal proceedings. As of now, authorities say further investigations remain highly active.
