Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Sent to Judicial Custody, Nationwide Protests Intensify

A Kathmandu court on Sunday remanded former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to five days in judicial custody amid escalating political tensions and protests across Nepal following his arrest.

Oli, along with former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, was detained on Saturday over alleged involvement in the suppression of the “Gen Z” protests held on September 8 and 9 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 76 people, including several youths.

The Kathmandu District Court granted a five-day remand for both leaders to facilitate further investigation. While Lekhak was physically present before the court, Oli attended the hearing virtually due to deteriorating health. He is currently undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and will remain there during his custody period.

The arrests follow a decision by the newly formed government led by Balendra Shah to implement recommendations of a probe commission investigating the deadly protests. The commission had called for legal action against senior officials linked to the crackdown.

Supporters of Oli’s party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), staged demonstrations in Kathmandu and other regions, demanding his immediate release. The party has also submitted protest memoranda to district authorities nationwide, challenging the probe panel’s findings.

Meanwhile, a habeas corpus petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the release of both Oli and Lekhak, adding a legal dimension to the unfolding political crisis.

In a related development, police arrested Deepak Khadka, a former energy minister, in connection with a money laundering investigation. Authorities allege Khadka received financial benefits in exchange for facilitating project licences during his tenure.

The developments have deepened political unrest in the Himalayan nation, with opposition forces mobilising protests and the government defending its actions as part of a broader accountability process.