Investigation Continues Against Oli and Lekhak, Police Actively Collecting Evidence

May 27, Kathmandu – Former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and former Home Minister and Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak have been released from custody, but investigations remain ongoing.

Despite their release, the police have clarified that the investigation is far from complete and is actively continuing.

Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police at Kathmandu District Police Office, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, confirmed that the case is still under investigation.

“It is incorrect to assume that the investigation ended with their release from custody. The police have been continuously performing necessary tasks. The investigation against them is ongoing,” said Bhattarai.

Earlier, Rachana Khadka, a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, raised the issue in parliament, criticizing the government for ignoring victims and martyrs of the Jenajeti Movement. She questioned when those responsible for opening fire during the movement would be held accountable in court.

The police have stated they are actively collecting evidence and progressing with the investigation. Oli and Lekhak were released on March 26, on court orders, following 13 days of custody. During this period, the police collected evidence including closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

According to senior sources, there is strong pressure on police to expedite the investigation, which has accelerated the ongoing work.

Currently, the police team is studying documents related to autopsies and forensic reports, analyzing CCTV footage, and taking statements from involved individuals and eyewitnesses, Bhattarai said.

Investigators have expressed doubts about the strength of the case despite ongoing evidence collection and the registration of charges. “We are doing our work, but even if the case is registered, there are doubts about its strength,” said an investigation officer.

How the Investigation is Accelerating Following the Commission’s Report

The primary reason the investigation against Oli and Lekhak has gained momentum is the report submitted by the commission led by former Chief Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission submitted its report to the government on March 13.

The Karki commission recommended taking disciplinary action against Oli and Lekhak. At the time of the Jenajeti Movement, Oli was Prime Minister and Lekhak was Home Minister. The commission held them responsible for the deaths of nearby demonstrators caused by security forces’ firing during the movement.

Accordingly, action was recommended under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Criminal Code. Section 181 penalizes causing death due to negligence.

They are accused of ordering or allowing firing on September 8 during the Jenajeti Movement, failing to prevent it, and exacerbating the situation.

Following the decision to implement the Karki commission report, they were arrested at their residences in Bhaktapur on March 14 and subsequently released on March 26 on bail in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order on March 23.

During the investigation period, the National Human Rights Commission also released its report, classifying Oli and Lekhak as violators of human rights and recommending legal proceedings against them.

Since the publication of this report, interest has increased regarding the progress of investigations against Oli and Lekhak. However, police have stated that they will not directly base their investigations on the Human Rights Commission’s report. “Implementation of that report is a government decision; it does not directly affect us,” said an investigation officer.

Investigation Initially Delayed

Although complaints were filed with police after the Jenajeti Movement, the investigation did not start immediately. Even though the then-interim government had directed immediate arrest and investigation of Oli and Lekhak, the police decided against arresting them at the time, citing lack of sufficient grounds and concerns over security risks. Consequently, the case files were placed on hold.

Nine complaints related to the September 8 Jenajeti Movement were filed at the Kathmandu District Police Office, but according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, these were shelved on October 14.

Following the formation of a new government, the police revisited the shelved files and reactivated investigations against Oli and Lekhak. Investigation has started based on one of the nine complaints that were previously shelved.