A Nepali inquiry panel has recommended the prosecution of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli for negligence during the violent anti-corruption protests in September 2025, which resulted in numerous casualties. The report, released on March 25, 2026, comes just days before Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, assumes office as the new prime minister.
The panel’s report accuses Mr. Oli, aged 74, of failing to prevent the violence that led to the deaths of at least 19 Gen Z protesters on the first day of demonstrations. The protests, which ultimately forced Mr. Oli to resign, resulted in a total of 76 deaths and 2,522 injuries over two days.
The report also implicates former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and the then-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, recommending their prosecution. Legal experts, however, emphasize that a criminal investigation is necessary before any formal charges can be filed in court, a process that could take several months.
The responsibility to act on the panel’s recommendations now lies with newly elected Prime Minister Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party. As the families of victims demand justice, the political landscape in Nepal faces significant challenges.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 26, 2026
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