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Nepal's former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has been arrested from his Katunje-based residence in Bhaktapur on Saturday

According to a source, an arrest warrant was presented to him before taken into custody. 

He was arrested while implementing the report of the inquiry commission formed to investigate the Gen Z protest held on September 8 and 9.

A total of 77 people were killed-many of them protesters shot by police- during the protests, which also resulted in the destruction of government and private property worth billions of rupees.

ALSO READ: Nepal’s former PM KP Oli arrested following inquiry commission report

Police have also arrested former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in the same case. 

The arrests were made shortly after a high-level meeting involving Prime Minister Balen Shah, Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane and Home Minister Sudan Gurung. 

Immediately after the meeting, Home Minister Susan Gurung directed Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki and Inspector General of Armed Police Force Raju Aryal to arrest Oli and Lekhak. 

Meanwhile, CPN-UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet has criticized the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, calling it an act of political revenge and prejudice.

In a social media post, Basnet criticized the current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, particularly the appointment of Home Minister Sudan Gurung, describing it as controversial and inexperienced.

Calling for action, Basnet urged party members and supporters to participate in demonstrations to safeguard democratic values and oppose what he described as “revenge politics.” He added that further details of the protest program would be announced following a party secretariat meeting scheduled for the morning.

Police on Saturday arrested Nepal's former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli from his Gundu-based residence in Bhaktapur. 

An arrest warrant was handed over to Oli before he was taken into custody, according to SP Surys Bahadur Khadka, Chief at the District Police Range, Kathmandu.

A police team had reached his residence at 5 am today to arrest him.

Authorities said that he was detained while implementing the report of the inquiry commission formed to investigate Gen Z protests held on September 8 and 9.

A total of 77 people were killed-many of them protesters shot by police- during the protests, which also resulted in the destruction of government and private property worth billions of rupees.

The move follows the Cabinet decision taken on Friday to immediately implement the commission's recommendations. 

Government spokesperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel had said that the first Cabinet meeting held under the headship of  Prime Minister Balendra Shah in Singha Durbar on Friday had decided to implement the issues recommended by the inquiry commission.

The meeting had also decided to form a study committee to examine issues pertaining to the security mechanisms involving individuals and bodies named in the report and act in accordance with the recommendations submitted by the committee, and to direct the concerned bodies to promptly act on the recommendations made by the commission in the case of others.

Following the decision, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung directed Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki and Inspector General of Armed Police Force Raju Aryal to arrest UML Chairman Oli and Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak.

ALSO READ: Nepal’s former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak detained

Meanwhile, UML Secretary Mahesh Basnet has criticized the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, calling it an act of political revenge and prejudice.

In a social media post, Basnet criticized the current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, particularly the appointment of Home Minister Sudan Gurung, describing it as controversial and inexperienced.

Calling for action, Basnet urged party members and supporters to participate in demonstrations to safeguard democratic values and oppose what he described as “revenge politics.” He added that further details of the protest program would be announced following a party secretariat meeting scheduled for the morning.

Meanwhile, taking to Facebook, a social media platform, Home Minister Gurung said that the actions were guided by law and not driven by revenge.

He clarified that the arrest was made following the recommendation of the inquiry commission formed to investigate the Gen Z protests held on September 8 and 9.

"No one is above the law. This is not revenge against anyone. It is just the beginning of justice", Minister Gurung stated.

He also expressed confidence that the country will now take a new course.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah moved to the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on Friday. 

He entered the official residence, Baluwatar by observing the established vedic rituals. 

Shah took an oath of office and secrecy before President Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday itself. 

The first Cabinet meeting of the newly formed government decided to immediately implement the report of the high-level commission on investigation into the incidents relating to Gen Z movement (September 8-9, 2025). 

It is the first decision of the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday. 

The government also assigned Minister for Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports, Sashmit Pokharel, as the Spokesperson of government. 

Following the meeting, Spokesperson Pokharel shared that among the recommendations made by the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led inquiry commission for actions against security officials, a study committee would be formed. However, in case of others, the recommendation would be implemented immediately, he added.

The commission had recommended actions to many officials including then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, then Inspector General of Nepal Police, Chandra Kuber Khapung. 

Earlier, the erstwhile government led by Sushila Karki had decided to make the inquiry report by placing it in the library archive of the federal parliament secretariat.

The Cabinet meeting also paid tribute to those losing lives in various movements, including the Gen Z movement, Spokesperson Pokhrel said, adding that it endorsed the governance reform plan.

With the assumption of office in Singha Durbar, PM Shah had directed the ministers and secretaries to work in favour of people.