Kathmandu, April 10: Former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were released from judicial custody on Thursday, following an order from the Supreme Court. They had spent 13 days in jail.
The two were arrested on March 28 in connection with a case linked to the suppression of protests last September, which resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators and is considered a case of ‘culpable homicide.’
While hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the families of Oli and Lekhak, the Supreme Court ordered their release by Thursday, after the five-day additional remand period granted by the Kathmandu District Court expired.
The court’s order issued on Monday stated that the investigation should be completed and necessary legal actions taken, or the two should be released from custody in accordance with the ‘National Criminal Procedure Code.’
After their release from police custody, former Prime Minister Oli claimed he had been held illegally. He stated on Facebook that despite the government’s biased and retaliatory criminal charges against him, he was ultimately released because the government failed to provide sufficient grounds and evidence to prosecute him.
However, Oli mentioned that due to his poor health, he would remain in the hospital for a few more days for treatment.
It is noteworthy that the arrest of Oli and Lekhak followed a recommendation from a commission led by former Special Court Chairman Gauri Bahadur Karki. This commission was established to investigate the events that occurred during the Gen-Z movement in Nepal on September 8 and 9 last year.
The commission recommended that KP Sharma Oli, Ramesh Lekhak, and former police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung be charged with ‘criminal negligence’ under sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code. If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years in prison.
According to government reports, 77 people lost their lives during the Gen-Z movement, and public and private property worth over 84 billion Nepali rupees was damaged.
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