Kathmandu, March 27: Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, arrested over the incidents of Bhadra 23, will now be investigated on charges related to homicide.
Under the Muluki Criminal Procedure Code, 2017, police can obtain permission from the court to keep suspects in custody for up to 25 days for investigation in cases involving homicide.
Within that period, investigators must complete their report and file a case in court through the government attorney’s office.
Accordingly, both Oli and Lekhak must be presented before the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday. Police can detain them for investigation only if the court grants permission.
During the Gen Z protests on Bhadra 23, police used force, and several youths died after being shot. Following the government’s decision to implement the report submitted by a probe commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, Oli and Lekhak were arrested.
The report recommends investigation under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code, 2017. Police say the two leaders will be investigated under these provisions.
Section 181 deals with causing death through negligence, which carries a penalty of 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 100,000. Section 182 deals with causing death through recklessness, punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 30,000.
The commission had made similar recommendations regarding then IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung. However, the Cabinet decided to form a separate committee to study the role of security personnel, and action will follow based on its recommendations. That is why Khapung has not been arrested.
People’s News Monitoring Services
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