Nepalese authorities have arrested former Energy Minister and Nepali Congress leader Deepak Khadka in Kathmandu as part of an expanding investigation into alleged money laundering offenses.
Police confirmed that Khadka was detained Sunday by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and is currently in custody as authorities probe financial irregularities linked to funds reportedly recovered from his residence during recent unrest.
The case will be overseen by Nepal’s Department of Money Laundering Investigation, according to officials, as part of a broader crackdown on corruption following months of political upheaval.
Khadka’s arrest comes just one day after the detention of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over their alleged roles in a deadly crackdown on anti-corruption protesters in September.
The unrest, initially sparked by a temporary social media ban in September 2025, quickly escalated into a nationwide uprising fueled by public anger over corruption and economic hardship. More than 70 people were killed and around 2,300 injured during the protests, which saw demonstrators storm government buildings and force the collapse of Oli’s administration.
Khadka’s residence was also targeted during the protests, with widely circulated footage showing demonstrators throwing cash discovered inside the property into the air.
The arrests come amid a sweeping political transition in Nepal. Earlier this month, the Rastriya Swatantra Party secured a landslide victory in the country’s first election since the unrest, bringing its leader Balendra Shah to power.
The new government has already unveiled a 100-point reform agenda, including plans to establish a high-level investigative body tasked with reviewing the assets of politicians and senior state officials.
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