Former Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli is detained after an inquiry linked him to a 2025 protest crackdown that killed 76 people and toppled his government

KATHMANDU: Hundreds of protesters demanded the release of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday. Oli was arrested for his alleged role in a deadly crackdown on 2025 protests that ousted him.

The 74-year-old and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Saturday. Their arrests followed an inquiry commission’s recommendation for prosecution over the protest violence.

The commission found Oli and Lekhak failed to stop security forces from opening fire on demonstrators. It said their claims of ignorance amounted to “criminal negligence”.

Heavy police deployments barred protesters from nearing the charred old parliament building on Monday. The building was set ablaze during the September 2025 unrest.

“Release KP Oli,” around 300 protesters chanted. They also demanded authorities “scrap the commission report”.

Oli appeared in court via video-link from hospital on Sunday, where his detention was extended for five days. Neither he nor Lekhak has been formally charged, and both deny responsibility.

Lawyers for Oli have submitted a petition to the Supreme Court for his release. The commission recommended they be investigated under a law dealing with death caused by recklessness.

The unrest began over a brief social media ban but tapped into fury over economic hardship. It spread nationwide the following day as government buildings were set ablaze.

Ex-energy minister Deepak Khadka was also detained on Sunday in a separate money laundering investigation. The September violence resulted in at least 76 deaths and the collapse of Oli’s government.

 The Sun Malaysia