Former Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s picture lies on the floor in the Singha Durbar office complex that houses the Prime Minister’s office and other Ministries burnt, following deadly anti-corruption protests triggered by a social media ban.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The judicial commission formed to investigate the incidents of September 8 and 9, during the Gen Z protests in Nepal, has recommended withholding the passports of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.The commission has also recommended the same action against former Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, former Chief of the National Investigation Department Hutraj Thapa, and former Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal.Editorial | Troubled transition: On the Nepal protests and afterThe inquiry commission, led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, a former judge, said in a press statement on Sunday (September 28, 2025) that the recommendation to withhold the passports is intended to prevent foreign travel, as the individuals may need to be summoned at any time for questioning.At least 19 people, mostly young demonstrators, were killed on September 8 when security forces used excessive force during youth-led protests demanding an end to corruption and misgovernance.The protests on the second day, September 9, spiralled out of control as demonstrators burned down state infrastructure, including the Parliament building, the Supreme Court, and Singha Durbar, the government complex housing federal ministries.More than 70 people were killed during the two days of unrest. Politicians’ houses were also attacked and set on fire, while private business properties were destroyed, with estimated losses amounting to tens of billions of Nepali rupees.The interim government, led by Sushila Karki, formed the judicial commission on September 21, appointing Mr. Gauri Bahadur Karki to lead the three-member body.The commission has been given three months to complete its investigation.On Sunday (September 28, 2025), the commission also stated that authorities have been requested not to allow the five individuals in question to travel outside Kathmandu, the capital.Mr. Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), resigned as Prime Minister on September 9 after the protests escalated.The judicial commission’s recommendation to withhold his passport comes a day after Mr. Oli made his first public appearance since stepping down and taking shelter at a Nepal Army barracks.He is currently residing in a rented house in Gundu, Bhaktapur, a district adjoining Kathmandu to the east.On Saturday (September 27, 2025), at a programme organised by his party’s youth wing, Mr. Oli mocked not just the current government, calling it “formed just like that, without any constitutional basis,” but also derided the plans to withhold his passport.“I am hearing the government is spreading rumours about withholding passports,” he said. “What do they [the government] think… withholding our passports? Are we going to flee by handing over this country to such a thrown-together government?”He also denied giving orders to open fire on protesters on September 8. Published - September 29, 2025 01:19 pm IST
