Nepal Police Arrest Former Minister Deepak Khadka Amid Ongoing Investigations

In a significant political development in Nepal, former energy minister Deepak Khadka has been arrested in connection with a money laundering investigation. This follows the recent detentions of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak, both linked to the controversial handling of last year's Gen Z protests. The new Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, has pledged to implement the findings of a commission investigating these events, which resulted in numerous fatalities and political upheaval. The situation has sparked criticism from various political factions, raising questions about the motives behind these arrests.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 29, 2026, 14:42 IST

Arrest of Deepak Khadka in Money Laundering Case

On Sunday, Nepalese authorities apprehended Deepak Khadka, a former energy minister and member of the Nepali Congress, as part of a money laundering investigation, according to local news sources. This arrest follows the detention of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak, who were taken into custody over a culpable homicide case linked to the alleged suppression of last year's Gen Z protests.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police confirmed Khadka's arrest, with spokesperson Shiva Kumar Shrestha stating that the police acted on a request from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation. Reports indicate that during the Gen Z protests, evidence emerged showing burnt banknotes at the homes of Khadka and former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, which were later validated by forensic tests.

Khadka faces allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for granting licenses and contracts while he was the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation. The Gen Z movement last year resulted in the deaths of 76 individuals, including many young people, and ultimately led to the downfall of the Oli administration.

In recent elections, Balendra Shah was elected as Nepal's new Prime Minister and took office on Friday. During his inaugural cabinet meeting, he announced the immediate implementation of the high-level commission's report investigating the Gen Z movement. Following this meeting, spokesperson Pokharel informed the press that the cabinet had decided to act on the commission's findings.

The commission has suggested that officials, including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, face up to 10 years in prison for their negligence during the protests. The newly formed government led by Balendra Shah has faced criticism from various political parties regarding the arrest of former PM Oli, with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) labeling it as "political revenge" and accusing the Shah administration of bias.