KATHMANDU, MARCH 29
The Kathmandu District Court has granted permission to keep CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak, former Home Minister, in detention for an additional five days to facilitate continued investigation.
A single bench of Judge Ananda Prasad Shrestha issued the order extending their remand by five days, according to court registrar Tirtha Raj Bhattarai.
The court permission was sought to keep Oli and Lekhak in custody to record their statements and document incident details in connection with the recommendations of a high-level inquiry commission on the Gen Z movement.
Stating that the request of the security agencies appeared cogent, the Court ordered that the detainees be kept in police custody for five more days under Section 14(6) of the Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2074 BS.
Considering the health condition of UML Chairperson Oli, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment at hospital, the authorities were directed to ensure that he receives necessary and adequate medical care.
Earlier, government attorneys had sought a 10-day remand for both leaders to further the investigation process.
Oli, who was serving as Head of Government at the time, and Lekhak, then Home Minister, were arrested in connection with the Gen Z movement that took place on September 8 and 9, 2025. Both leaders were taken into custody yesterday morning following recommendations of a high-level commission formed by the erstwhile interim government to investigate the incidents.
The commission, led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, had recommended that legal action be initiated against Oli and Lekhak on charges related to the alleged suppression of the Gen Z movement.
Due to illness, Oli appeared before the court virtually from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, while Lekhak appeared in person.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samchar Samiti)