Prakash Kafle / Kathmandu. Supreme Court of Nepal has ordered the release of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak from custody on Chaitra 26. According to the joint bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel, they will be automatically released after the expiry of the five-day remand extension granted for the third time by the Kathmandu District Court. Earlier, the district court had extended the remand from Chaitra 21 for investigation purposes, during which police continued their inquiry.
The investigation was initiated against both leaders on charges of negligence while holding state leadership during the Gen-Z movement that took place on Bhadra 23 and 24. At that time, Oli was serving as Prime Minister and Lekhak as Home Minister. Following the recommendation of the probe commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, the police arrested them on Chaitra 14. After issuing arrest warrants, they were presented before the Kathmandu District Court on Chaitra 15 seeking permission for judicial custody.
However, claiming that the arrest process was legally flawed, the families of both leaders filed a habeas corpus petition at the Supreme Court. They argued that the arrests were made without prior court approval. Hearing the petition for the second time, the Supreme Court ordered that they should not be kept in custody once the remand period expires.
Police are investigating them under Sections 181, 182, and 183 of the National Penal Code, which relate to negligence leading to loss of life. If found guilty, the law provides for up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to NPR 30,000.
Meanwhile, after assuming office, Prime Minister Balen Shah chaired a Cabinet meeting that decided to implement the Karki Commission report. Home Minister Sudan Gurung stated that the arrests were not an act of revenge but a step toward justice.
