Ex-Nepal PM K P Oli arrested over Gen Z protest crackdown :::: Nepal was rocked by a massive youth-led uprising in Sept 2025

A day after Balen Shah was sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister, his predecessor KP Sharma Oli was arrested over the crackdown on Gen Z protests.  

Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested early on Saturday (March 28th) in connection with a culpable homicide case linked to the violent suppression of the September 2025 ‘Gen Z’ protests that ultimately led to his ouster from power. The development comes just a day after rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah took oath as the country’s new Prime Minister.

Nepali Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also taken into custody in the same case. Both leaders were arrested from their residences in Bhaktapur and are likely to be charged under provisions that carry a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years.  

Nepal Police said the action is being carried out to implement recommendations made by a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.

The commission has recommended that Oli, Lekhak and then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung be charged under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code for criminal negligence, with a proposed prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The report also recommends action against then-home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former head of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa, and then-chief district officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal, suggesting prosecution under Section 182 of the code.

It further recommends that other officials found responsible be dealt with under the respective laws governing their organisations.

Oli’s arrest came after a high-level commission in Nepal to investigate violence during the anti-corruption protests recommended the prosecution of the four-time prime minister and leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

The commission held the 74-year-old responsible for failing to act to stop hours of firing that killed at least 19 Gen Z protesters on the first day of demonstrations that ultimately forced him to resign.

Nepal was rocked by a massive youth-led uprising, dubbed the ‘Gen Z revolution’, in September 2025, fuelled by anger over governance failures, corruption, unemployment and political instability under KP Sharma Oli. 

What began as a movement for digital freedom soon evolved into a wider anti-establishment revolt, met with a sweeping state crackdown. The ensuing violence claimed at least 76 lives and left more than 2,000 people injured.

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K P Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Saturday morning. former Home Minister Lekhak was arrested from his residence in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur.