Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Arrested Over Deadly 2025 Protests

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Kathmandu: Police in Nepal have arrested former prime minister K P Sharma Oli over his alleged role in a deadly crackdown on protests that led to the collapse of his government.

Oli was taken into custody early Saturday from his residence on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Authorities also detained former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is accused of ordering security forces to open fire on demonstrators.

Current home minister Sudan Gurung confirmed the arrests on social media, stating that the move was part of efforts to deliver justice. “No one is above the law… this is just the beginning of justice,” he said.

The arrests follow an investigation by a government-appointed commission, which recommended prison sentences of up to 10 years for Oli, Lekhak, and the police chief at the time of the protests. The report found no clear evidence of a direct order to shoot, but concluded that authorities failed to prevent or control the violence, leading to multiple deaths, including minors.

Heavily armed police units carried out coordinated raids at the leaders’ homes before transferring them to the district police office in Kathmandu. Police spokesperson Om Adhikari confirmed the detentions.

The development comes just a day after rapper-turned politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister following his victory in the 5 March parliamentary elections—the first since the 2025 uprising that ousted Oli.

The protests, driven largely by youth and “Gen Z” activists, escalated into nationwide unrest, with parliament and government buildings set on fire, ultimately forcing the government’s collapse. During the transition, Sushila Karki briefly served as the country’s first female prime minister.

Shah and his cabinet have pledged accountability and justice for those killed and injured during the unrest.