Nepal High Court on Monday ordered the release of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
Oli was arrested by Nepal Police from his residence in Bhaktapur in connection with an alleged culpable homicide case tied to the crackdown on the September 2025 Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests.
During the protests, a total of 77 people lost their lives, while large-scale damage was reported to both government and private property, running into billions.
Nepali Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested earlier from his residence as part of the same case. The action followed a formal complaint filed by the Home Ministry, which set off an investigation and led to the issuance of arrest warrants.
According to a report by the Kathmandu Post, police officials said the arrests were carried out in line with recommendations made by a commission headed by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The panel examined the handling of the protests and suggested legal action against several senior officials.
The commission recommended that former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, Lekhak, and then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung be charged under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code for criminal negligence. The suggested punishment under these sections could extend up to 10 years in prison.
The report also proposed action against other officials, including then home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former National Investigation Department head Hutaraj Thapa, and then Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal. It recommended that they be prosecuted under Section 182 of the same code.
In addition, the commission said that any other officials found responsible should face action under the laws governing their respective organisations.
The findings of the report pointed to serious lapses, describing the crackdown as a result of criminal negligence and recklessness. It noted that authorities failed to act on prior intelligence warning of a possible escalation, which eventually led to multiple deaths during the protests.
(With inputs from agency)
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