Historic Arrest: Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak Detained Over ‘Gen Z’ Protest Crackdown
28th March 2026, Kathmandu
In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through Nepal’s political landscape, former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was arrested on Saturday morning.
Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli
Alongside him, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also taken into custody in a coordinated police operation.
This marks the first time in Nepal’s history that a former Chief Executive has been detained for a criminal investigation involving homicide, rather than for political protests or administrative detention.
The Midnight Operation in Gundu and Katunje
The arrests were executed by a high-level team from the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, supported by a heavy deployment of the Armed Police Force (APF).
KP Sharma Oli was served an urgent arrest warrant at his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, by a team led by SSP Santosh Khadka.
Ramesh Lekhak was apprehended earlier in the morning at his residence in Katunje, Bhaktapur.
Police had reportedly cordoned off both residences late Friday night following a decisive cabinet meeting led by the newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Balen Shah.
The Charges: Negligence and Culpable Homicide
The arrests are directly linked to the violent suppression of the youth-led “Gen Z” movement on September 8 and 9, 2025 (Bhadra 23-24). The protests, which demanded governance reform and an end to corruption, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 19 individuals (with some reports citing up to 77 fatalities across the country).
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The Gauri Bahadur Karki-led Inquiry Commission recently submitted a report finding the executive leadership guilty of “criminal negligence.” Specifically:
Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code: The commission recommended charges for causing death through negligence and recklessness.
Failure to Act: The report highlighted that even though gunfire continued for over four hours near the Parliament building, no attempt was made by the then-PM or Home Minister to order a “ceasefire.”
“No One is Above the Law”: Home Minister Sudan Gurung
The newly appointed Home Minister, Sudan Gurung who himself rose to prominence as a leader of the Gen Z movement confirmed the arrests via social media.
“PROMISE IS A PROMISE: No one is above the law. We have taken former PM KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak into custody. This is not a vendetta; it is the beginning of justice. I believe the country will now take a new direction.”
What Happens Next?
Both leaders have been transported to the District Police Range in Bhadrakali for further investigation. Legal experts suggest that if charged under Sections 181 and 182, they could face up to three years of imprisonment and significant fines, though some international legal observers note the potential for higher sentences if the charges are escalated to culpable homicide.
The CPN-UML and Nepali Congress have yet to issue a joint formal response, but hundreds of party workers have begun gathering near police headquarters, prompting the government to heighten security across the Kathmandu Valley.
For more: Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli
