KP Oli and Lekhak Arrested Over Gen Z Movement Probe

Senior advocate Tikarām Bhattarai has said he will move the Supreme Court against the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Police arrested Oli and Lekhak on Saturday morning while implementing the recommendations of a report prepared by a commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, which was formed to investigate the Gen Z movement.

Before his arrest, Oli held consultations with legal experts including Bhattarai. “He has asked us to fight this legally and prepare for court,” Bhattarai said, adding that they plan to file a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court as early as Sunday on behalf of both leaders.

The Karki Commission report concluded that negligence and carelessness during the Gen Z movement led to fatalities, and recommended investigation and prosecution of then Prime Minister Oli, then Home Minister Lekhak, and former Inspector General of Police Chandra Kubera Khapung. It also suggested criminal investigations against former Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former National Investigation Department head Hutraj Thapa, and former Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabilal Rijal on charges of negligence.

Following a Cabinet decision on Friday to implement parts of the commission’s recommendations immediately, police issued arrest warrants and detained Oli and Lekhak. “We reviewed the warrant, Oli signed it, and then police took them into custody,” Bhattarai said. He also questioned the basis of the arrest, calling the commission’s report “exaggerated” and insufficient grounds for immediate detention.

Police stated that the arrests were made under urgent provisions related to serious criminal charges. However, Bhattarai argued that such warrants are typically issued only when there is a risk of the accused fleeing. “Where would they go? They were not going to leave the country. Authorities could have investigated while keeping them under location restrictions instead of arresting them,” he said.

After medical examinations, both Oli and Lekhak are expected to be held in custody at Bhadrakali for further investigation.