Kathmandu, April 9 (NationPress) - The former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, along with ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, was released from judicial custody on Thursday, following a Supreme Court order. This came after they had spent 13 days behind bars.

The duo was taken into custody on March 28 over a culpable homicide case linked to the Gen Z protests that occurred in September of the previous year, which tragically resulted in the deaths of several protesters.

Upon hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by their families, the Supreme Court mandated their release by Thursday, once the additional five-day remand allotted by the Kathmandu District Court had lapsed.

The court's directive stated, "Complete the investigation and either pursue the necessary legal actions or release Oli and Lekhak in accordance with the National Criminal Procedure Code."

After his release, former Prime Minister Oli asserted that his detention was unlawful.

He remarked, "Despite the government's attempts to impose criminal charges against me in a biased and retaliatory fashion, and my subsequent illegal detention for 13 days, I have been released as they could not substantiate their claims with adequate evidence to support prosecution in this matter," as he shared on Facebook.

However, the former Prime Minister indicated that he would remain in the hospital for a few more days due to health issues.

The arrests were prompted by the recommendations made by a commission under the leadership of former Special Court Chairperson Gauri Bahadur Karki, which was established to investigate the events surrounding the Gen Z protests in Nepal on September 8 and 9 last year.

This commission suggested that Oli, Lekhak, and former Police Chief Chandra Kuber Khapung face charges under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code for criminal negligence, which could result in sentences of up to 10 years if found guilty.

Furthermore, the report recommended actions against several officials, including former Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, current Armed Police Force Chief Raju Aryal, and the previous head of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa, as well as the then Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal. These individuals could face prosecution under Section 182 of the code, which carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment.

According to the government's report, during the Gen Z protests, 77 lives were lost, and public and private properties suffered damages exceeding NPR 84 billion.