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Nepal Arrests Ex–Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Former Interior Minister Over 2025 Crackdown

The detentions carry out an inquiry’s call to prosecute senior officials for criminal negligence in the 2025 crackdown.

Overview

  • Police, moving before dawn Saturday, detained Oli at his home in Gundu and Ramesh Lekhak at his residence in nearby Suryabinayak, according to officials and Lekhak’s aide.
  • Authorities say the action implements recommendations from a government commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki that urged negligence charges under Penal Code articles 181 and 182, which can bring up to 10 years in prison.
  • New Interior Minister Sudan Gurung announced the custody order and said no one is above the law, with the move coming less than 24 hours after Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister.
  • The inquiry examined the youth-led protests of September 8–9, 2025, which saw parliament and other offices set on fire and left about 77 people dead, a toll that precipitated Oli’s resignation.
  • The report also names former police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, who has not been publicly detained, while Oli underwent a medical check and proclaimed his innocence, signaling an impending court fight.