Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be presented to court virtually on Sunday because of health concerns, a government lawyer said, and a team from the attorney general’s office has been dispatched to facilitate the remote appearance.
Former Home Minister Ramesh Lehak, who served in Oli’s cabinet and is a senior Nepali Congress leader, was brought to court in person. Both Lehak and Oli were arrested Saturday morning; police detained Oli at his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur while investigating a case linked to loss of life.
Authorities say the arrests are connected to an alleged culpable-homicide case tied to the suppression of the September 2025 Gen-Z anti-corruption protests, during which 77 people were killed and government and private property suffered heavy damage. The protests followed a decision at a CPN-UML central secretariat meeting in Lalitpur directing mass organisations to lead demonstrations on the party’s behalf.
Oli’s detention prompted immediate unrest among CPN-UML supporters in Kathmandu. Dozens of cadres staged protests, burning tyres and, in some instances, the investigation commission’s report. A party supporter at a demonstration vowed revenge and dismissed the arrests as politically motivated.
The CPN-UML has called a large-scale demonstration for Sunday at 12 noon, organised by district committees. During the action, party activists plan to submit protest letters to Chief District Officer offices. The party secretariat also announced it will pursue legal and political measures in response to the arrests.
The newly formed government under Mayor-turned-PM Balen Shah announced on Friday that it would immediately implement the recommendations of a High-Level Investigation Commission led by former Justice Gauribahadur Karki. That commission probed the Gen-Z protests and its findings paved the way for legal action against officials identified in the report.
Police say Oli was taken into custody for questioning in a case relating to an offence causing loss of life; details of formal charges and the next court proceedings have not been released. The government legal team is coordinating Oli’s virtual court appearance to accommodate his medical needs while the investigation continues.
