KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak Released on Bail Following Supreme Court Mandate

Kathmandu. A decision has been made to release KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak on bail. Following a mandamus order from the Supreme Court, the police have decided to release both individuals.

An official from the Kathmandu District Police Range told Rato Pati that, with the consent of the public prosecutor, it was decided to release Oli and Lekhak on the condition that they appear when summoned.

They were arrested by the police on Chait 14 after the commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, formed to investigate the incidents of Bhadau 23 and 24, recommended a criminal investigation. The police had kept them in custody after obtaining a third remand extension from the Kathmandu District Court.

While hearing a habeas corpus writ, the Supreme Court issued a mandamus on Chait 23, ordering that no fourth remand extension be granted and that if the investigation was not completed, they should be released from custody to continue further investigation and inquiry. According to the Supreme Court's order, the third remand extension granted by the Kathmandu District Court was valid only until Wednesday.

Supreme Court Justices Binod Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel had ordered their release from custody after Chait 25. The Kathmandu District Court had granted a third remand of 5 days, effective from Chait 21.

The court issued a mandamus to complete the investigation within that period and decide whether to prosecute, or if that was not possible, to release them from custody by completing the procedures under Section 15 of the National Criminal Procedure Code, 2074, to continue further investigation and inquiry.

The Council of Ministers had decided to implement the recommendations made by the Gauri Bahadur Karki commission regarding the incidents of Bhadau 23 and 24. Oli was the Prime Minister and Lekhak was the Home Minister when teenagers died from police gunfire during the Gen-Z protests in Baneshwor, Kathmandu.

Due to health issues, Oli was kept at the TU Teaching Hospital. Lekhak was detained by the police at the Armed Police Force No. 2 Battalion in Maharajgunj.