Former Nepal Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli has been arrested by Nepal Police from his residence in Bhaktapur in connection with an alleged culpable homicide case linked to the suppression of the September 2025 Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests.
Nepali Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested earlier from his residence in the same case.
The arrests come after a formal complaint filed by the Home Ministry, which led to an investigation and the issuance of arrest warrants.
According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, police officials said the action is being taken to implement recommendations of a commission headed by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.
The commission recommended that 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, which carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years.
The report also calls for action against then Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former head of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa, and then Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal, suggesting prosecution under Section 182 of the code.
It further recommends that other officials found responsible be dealt with under the relevant laws governing their respective organisations.
The report attributes the crackdown to criminal negligence and recklessness, citing a failure to act on prior intelligence about a possible escalation, which resulted in multiple deaths.
During the Gen Z protests in Nepal in September 2025, a total of 77 people were killed, while government and private property worth billions was destroyed.
A Cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday decided to implement the commission’s report, paving the way for legal action against those named.
The Cabinet also decided to form a study committee to examine issues related to security personnel, based on the Karki Commission’s recommendations.
Additionally, a separate investigation committee will look into the role of security agencies, with immediate action to be taken in cases involving political leaders and others.
The newly formed government made these decisions public following its first Cabinet meeting held on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by Shah, took four major decisions, including the implementation of the report on the suppression of the Gen Z movement.
The Cabinet also resolved to express respect and pay tribute to all known and unknown martyrs of the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9, 2025, as well as those of earlier movements.
It further appointed Sasmit Pokharel, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, as the official spokesperson of the Government of Nepal.
