Legal Challenge Filed in Supreme Court Against Oli and Lekhak Arrest

Senior advocate Tikaram Bhattarai has announced plans to move the Supreme Court on behalf of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak following their arrest.

Bhattarai said that legal preparations are already underway and a habeas corpus petition will be filed as soon as possible, likely by Sunday. He revealed that Oli had held discussions with legal experts, including himself, shortly before his arrest and instructed them to begin a legal fight. “He asked us to prepare for a legal battle. We will go to the Supreme Court on their behalf,” Bhattarai said.

The arrests were carried out on Saturday morning as authorities began implementing the recommendations of a probe commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, which investigated the Gen Z movement.

Following their detention, both Oli and Lekhak are being taken for medical examinations and will then be held in custody at Bhadrakali for further investigation. Police said the arrests were made under urgent provisions related to serious criminal charges.

Meanwhile, legal teams are actively challenging the basis of the arrests, arguing that the commission’s report does not justify immediate detention. The case is now expected to move to the Supreme Court, where a legal battle over the arrests will begin.