Nepal’s Former PM KP Oli Detained After Gen Z Protest Suppression, a Day After Balen Shah Takes Office

Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested early Saturday in connection with a culpable homicide case tied to the violent suppression of the September 2025 ‘Gen Z’ protests that led to his removal from office.

The arrest comes a day after rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s new Prime Minister. Nepali Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also taken into custody in the same case. Both were arrested from their residences in Bhaktapur and may face charges carrying a maximum prison term of up to 10 years.

The ‘Gen Z revolution’ of September 2025 was a massive youth-led uprising driven by frustration over governance failures, corruption, unemployment, and political instability under Oli. What began as a movement advocating digital freedom escalated into a broader anti-establishment revolt, met with a harsh state crackdown that left at least 76 dead and more than 2,000 injured.

Oli’s arrest followed recommendations from a high-level commission investigating the violence during the protests. The panel held the four-time prime minister accountable for failing to prevent hours of police firing that killed 19 protesters on the first day of demonstrations, ultimately forcing his resignation.

“As the executive head, Oli should be held responsible for anything, good or bad,” the report stated.

Alongside Oli and Lekhak, the commission recommended action against then-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung and dozens of other officials. Oli dismissed the findings as politically motivated, calling them “negligent, a character assassination, and reflective of hate politics,” according to the Annapurna Post.

If prosecuted and convicted, the three could face up to 10 years in prison.

In the March 5 general elections, Oli suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balen Shah in the Jhapa-5 constituency, a long-time Communist Party stronghold.