A government-appointed commission in Nepal has recommended the prosecution of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli over his alleged role in the deadly September 2025 uprising that led to the سقوط of his administration, according to a report leaked to local media.
The unrest, which erupted on September 8 and 9, left at least 77 people dead and dozens injured. What began as protests against a brief social media ban quickly escalated into a nationwide anti-corruption movement fueled by public anger over economic hardship and governance failures. Demonstrations spread rapidly, with government buildings and parts of parliament set on fire during the violence.
The commission’s findings were submitted earlier this month and recommend that authorities investigate and prosecute Oli, along with former interior minister Ramesh Lekhak and ex-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung. The report states that senior officials failed to act decisively to prevent loss of life during the protests.
“It was decided to recommend to the Government of Nepal that an investigation, inquiry, and prosecution be carried out against the then executive head,” the report states. It adds that while no direct order to open fire was established, there was a failure to control security forces, resulting in what it describes as negligent conduct.
According to the findings, 48 of 63 completed autopsies confirmed victims died from gunshot wounds, many of them to the chest or head. At least 19 young people were killed on the first day alone as security forces moved to suppress the protests. No convictions have been secured in connection with the killings.
The report was compiled by a commission established under interim leadership following Oli’s removal from office. Former chief justice Sushila Karki, who assumed a caretaker role, oversaw the formation of the inquiry panel. Commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma said investigators interviewed more than 200 individuals and produced a 900-page report supported by thousands of pages of evidence.
The political landscape has shifted significantly since the uprising. In elections held on March 5, the reformist Rastriya Swatantra Party secured a sweeping victory, winning 182 seats in the 275-member lower house. The party is led by Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper known as Balen, who campaigned on promises to tackle corruption and overhaul the economy.
Newly elected lawmakers were sworn in on Thursday, with Rabi Lamichhane, the party’s president, standing alongside Shah during the ceremony. Shah is expected to take the oath as prime minister on Friday.
The commission’s recommendations come at a sensitive moment, as the incoming government prepares to take office amid public demands for accountability. While the report has not yet been officially released, its contents have intensified calls for justice from victims’ families and civil society groups.
