Ramesh Lekhak to be Held at Nepal Police 2nd Battalion Following Custody Extension; Oli Receiving Treatment at Hospital

Former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital due to his health condition. The commission led by former Chief Justice Gauribahadur Karki recommended investigation into Oli and Ramesh Lekhak for charges related to loss of life. The government’s cabinet has decided to implement this recommendation. Kathmandu, 15 Chaitra.

Following a five-day extension of custody granted by the Kathmandu District Court, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak will be held at the Nepal Police’s 2nd Battalion located in Maharajgunj. Lekhak, who was arrested on Saturday, remains in the 2nd Battalion where he is currently being interrogated. SSP Ramesh Thapa of Kathmandu District Police Office provided this update. “He (Ramesh Lekhak) is being investigated while held at the 2nd Battalion. Even after the extension of custody, he remains at the same location,” SSP Thapa stated.

Typically, suspects are kept in the police office’s detention during investigations. Only when detention is unavailable are they transferred elsewhere. However, due to Lekhak’s high-profile status as a former Home Minister and for security reasons, he is being held at the 2nd Battalion. SSP Thapa explained that the Bhadrapur area in Kathmandu, where the police campus is located, is prone to larger crowds and police are engaged in other regular duties, so Lekhak’s security is better ensured at the 2nd Battalion.

Similarly, the former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, whose custody has been extended for five days, will remain admitted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Treatment is ongoing to help him recover. The custody extension order issued by the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday also included a directive to arrange for medical care, according to SSP Thapa. During the generic movement on 23 and 24 Shrawan, Oli and Lekhak were serving as Prime Minister and Home Minister respectively. The commission led by former Chief Justice Karki, established to investigate that incident, found both Oli and Lekhak culpable and recommended investigation into charges related to loss of life. The cabinet decided to implement the commission’s report on Friday, after which Oli and Lekhak were arrested on Saturday morning.