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.

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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.