Nepal court extends detention of ex-PM Oli in deadly protest probe

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Security unit   deployed during the protestation  by Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) supporters demanding the merchandise  of erstwhile  Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, successful  Kathmandu. File

Security unit deployed during the protestation by Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) supporters demanding the merchandise of erstwhile Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, successful Kathmandu. File | Photo Credit: ANI

A Nepal tribunal connected Thursday (April 2, 2026) extended the detention of erstwhile Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his ex-Home Minister for a further 2 days arsenic investigators probe their alleged roles successful a deadly crackdown connected protests past year.

Police arrested Mr. Oli, 74, and erstwhile Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak connected Saturday (March 28, 2026), a time aft Prime Minister Balendra Shah was sworn successful pursuing the archetypal elections since the September uprising that toppled Mr. Oli's government.

Authorities are investigating their alleged engagement successful the crackdown connected demonstrations successful 2025 that killed astatine slightest 76 people.

Neither antheral has been formally charged and some contradict work for the violence.

"The tribunal has granted 2 days extension," Kathmandu District Court accusation serviceman Deepak Kumar Shrestha told AFP.

The tribunal determination said investigators required much clip arsenic Oli's connection was inactive being recorded.

The bid marks the 2nd hold aft the tribunal initially granted constabulary 5 days' detention connected Sunday (March 29, 2026).

Mr. Oli remains hospitalised, wherever helium was admitted connected Saturday (March 28, 2026) for what constabulary described arsenic a procedural aesculapian check-up, adding that helium suffers from bosom and kidney problems.

On Monday (March 30, 2026), Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the authorities to explainMr. Oli's apprehension aft his woman filed a petition claiming the detention was unlawful.

Police said connected Thursday (April 2, 2026) said they had submitted their response.

The arrests of Mr. Oli and Mr. Lekhak came aft an enquiry committee recommended prosecuting the four-time ex-prime curate and different officials for failing to halt information forces from opening occurrence connected demonstrators.

The commission's study said the statements fixed by the 2 men suggesting they did not cognize astir the unit were portion of a bid to displacement work and amounted to "criminal negligence".

Mr. Oli's CPN-UML Marxist enactment has described the arrests arsenic "a vengeful act" and called for protests.

But Rabi Lamichhane, person of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), rejected that claim.

"The archetypal close to person justness belongs to the parent of the martyr, this cannot beryllium called revenge," Lamichhane said Thursday (April 2, 2026) arsenic helium addressed the opening league of Parliament.

The unrest successful aboriginal September began implicit a little societal media ban, but tapped into longstanding fury implicit economical hardship.

It dispersed nationwide the pursuing time arsenic parliament and authorities offices were acceptable ablaze, resulting successful the illness of Mr. Oli's government.

Mr. Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, led the Rastriya Swatantra Party to a sweeping predetermination triumph connected a level of youth-driven governmental alteration and defeated Oli successful his ain constituency.

Published - April 03, 2026 08:50 americium IST

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