Police arrested Deepak Khadka, a Nepali Congress leader and former Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, in connection with a money laundering case. This arrest comes after former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were also arrested in cases related to the Gen Z movement’s suppression last September. Khadka is now the third person from Oli’s government to be taken into custody.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar Shrestha, the spokesperson for Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau, confirmed Khadka’s arrest from his residence in Kathmandu’s Maharajgunj area early Sunday morning. The arrest followed the discovery of a significant amount of cash at Khadka’s house during the Gen Z movement last year, where protesters were seen throwing cash bundles in the air in widely circulated videos.
Khadka, involved in various businesses like hydropower projects and hotels, had a controversial tenure as energy minister. He clashed openly with the former Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, leading to the latter’s removal. Additionally, Khadka faced allegations of financial misconduct related to licenses and contracts for hydropower projects, as well as misappropriation of land belonging to Nepal Scouts in Kathmandu.
Former Home Minister Lekhak was also presented before the District Court in Kathmandu for an extension of his detention regarding the Gen Z movement. A government report revealed that 77 people lost their lives, and properties worth over NPR 84 billion were damaged during the September 2020 uprising. An inquiry commission recommended charging Oli, Lekhak, and former Police Chief Khapung for criminal negligence, potentially leading to up to 10 years’ imprisonment upon conviction.
