Ex-Nepal PM KP Oli Arrested Amid Gen Z Protest Crackdown, One Day After Balen Shah’s Oath

Former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Arrested Over Gen Z Protest Crackdown

Former Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested early Saturday in connection with a culpable homicide case linked to the violent suppression of the September 2025 ‘Gen Z’ protests, which ultimately led to his ouster. The arrest comes just a day after rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah took oath as Nepal’s new Prime Minister.

Nepali Congress leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also taken into custody. Both were arrested from their residences in Bhaktapur and could face charges carrying up to 10 years in prison.

The September 2025 protests, dubbed the ‘Gen Z revolution,’ were led by youth angered over governance failures, corruption, unemployment, and political instability under Oli. The demonstrations, which began as a digital freedom movement, escalated into a nationwide anti-establishment revolt. The state crackdown left at least 76 dead and over 2,000 injured.

A high-level commission investigating the violence held Oli responsible for failing to stop hours of police firing that killed 19 protesters on the first day of demonstrations, which ultimately forced him to resign.

“As the executive head, Oli should be held responsible for anything, good or bad,” the commission stated. Recommendations also targeted then-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung and dozens of other officials.

Oli rejected the findings, calling the report “negligent, a character assassination, and reflective of hate politics,” according to Annapurna Post.

If prosecuted and convicted, Oli, Lekhak, and other officials could face up to 10 years in jail.

In the March 5 general elections, Oli lost his stronghold in Jhapa-5 to Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balen Shah.