The Tamesis
March 30, 2026
kathmandu – The Kathmandu District Court on Sunday remanded former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to five-day remand for investigation into their alleged dereliction of duty leading to the death of a protester during Gen Z-led protests in September.
Justice Ananda Shrestha issued the order after holding a hearing on a petition filed by government lawyers seeking permission to detain the two leaders for investigation. Although prosecutors requested 10 days of detention, the court granted a five-day remand.
Laikak appeared in person, while Oli, who is undergoing treatment at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajganj, appeared in court citing health issues.
Both leaders were arrested on Saturday morning in connection with the September 8 incident, during which security forces were accused of using excessive force to suppress demonstrations.
At the hearing, government lawyers argued that the detentions were necessary to advance the investigation, while defense lawyers insisted there were no grounds for detention and called for their release.
Senior lawyers Harihar Dahal, Agni Kharel, Ramesh Badal, Gopal Krishna Ghimire and Khamma Bahadur Khati, among others, represented Oli and Laikak in the court.
The arrests stemmed from the recommendation of a high-level investigative committee, which called for criminal proceedings against the two leaders for reckless and negligent behavior during the crackdown on protests on September 8 and 9.
Oli was prime minister and Lehak was home minister when the protests took place.
Meanwhile, both men have filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court challenging their detention.
