Nepal Police arrested former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his former home minister early Saturday morning, acting on a mandate to deliver justice for the deadly September 2025 youth uprising that ultimately collapsed his government.
The arrests mark a seismic shift in the Himalayan nation’s political landscape. They were ordered during the very first cabinet meeting of newly elected Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Oli, 74, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak face culpable homicide charges related to the deaths of 77 people during last year’s nationwide anti-corruption protests.
Police detained both men at their respective residences in the Kathmandu Valley.
The charges stem directly from a government-backed inquiry commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission investigated the lethal suppression of the September demonstrations. Those protests initially sparked over a brief social media ban before exploding into a massive revolt against political nepotism. Security forces opened fire on crowds that had burned government offices. Over 2,300 people were injured.
The Karki commission recommended prosecuting the leaders for criminal negligence under Sections 181 and 182 of Nepal’s National Penal Code. The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, according to a detailed report confirming the arrests.
Current Home Minister Sudan Gurung publicly announced the sweeping police action on Saturday.
“This is not revenge against anyone, it is just the beginning of justice,” Gurung said.
The sheer scale of the September unrest captured the attention of the world and forced a massive transitional government shift. Retired Supreme Court Judge Sushila Karki stepped in to stabilize the country. That interim period paved the way for the March 2026 elections. Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician leading the Rastriya Swatantra Party, won a landslide victory on an anti-establishment platform promising accountability for the protest victims.
Nepal: Protests erupt in Kathmandu after KP Sharma Oli arrest https://t.co/XTf5ZI5Yih via @Newzville
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Oli is currently undergoing a procedural medical checkup at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital due to a history of kidney issues.
His party, the CPN-UML, immediately condemned the police action. Party officials labeled the detentions as political revenge. Supporters launched street protests in Kathmandu shortly after the news broke. Riot police engaged in minor scuffles with the demonstrators. At least seven people have been detained so far.