On April 2, 2026, a Nepalese court extended the detention of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak by two days. The extension comes as authorities continue to investigate their alleged roles in a deadly crackdown on protests that occurred last year.
Oli, aged 74, and Lekhak were initially arrested on March 28, 2026, following the swearing-in of Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The arrests followed recommendations by an inquiry commission to prosecute Oli and other officials for failing to prevent security forces from firing on demonstrators, resulting in at least 76 deaths.
The protests, which began in September 2025, were initially sparked by a brief social media ban but quickly escalated, tapping into widespread discontent over economic conditions. The situation led to nationwide unrest, with government buildings set ablaze and Oli’s administration eventually collapsing.
Oli’s party, the CPN-UML Marxist, has labeled the arrests as politically motivated, while the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Rabi Lamichhane, insists that justice must prevail for the victims’ families. As the investigation continues, Oli remains hospitalized for health issues, and the Supreme Court has demanded an explanation for his detention.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, April 3, 2026
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