Nepal’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) on Sunday arrested former energy minister Deepak Khadka in a case related to last September’s Gen Z protests, an agency official said.“Khadka was arrested in a case related to money laundering,” CIB spokesman Shiv Kumar Shrestha told AFP.Shrestha said, the Money Laundering Investigation Department will monitor the investigation against the Nepali Congress leader.Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Sudan Gurung wrote on Facebook that Khadka “has been detained today in connection with the investigation into the money recovered from his residence during the September 9 protests.”The development came a day after then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and then Home Affairs Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested for their alleged role in the deadly crackdown on Gen Z protesters.Also read: Hours after oath, Nepal government arrests former PM Oli over deaths in Gen Z protestsThe youth-led rebellion began over a brief ban on social media, but soon expanded to reflect long-standing frustration over corruption and economic hardship.At least 76 people were killed in the crackdown on September 8 and 9, according to a commission investigating the violence.Also read: As Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balendra Shah takes charge, panel is seeking prosecution of Oli over deadly Gen Z protestsProtesters set fire to the Parliament building and government offices, ultimately ousting Oli’s administration.Khadka’s residence was set on fire, and videos circulated widely showing protesters throwing cash found inside his house into the air.An interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took charge and ruled Nepal until general elections held earlier this month, which the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won with a landslide victory.RSP leader, rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah formally assumed the post of Prime Minister on Friday. The name of 35-year-old Shah, a former mayor of Kathmandu, was also among the names considered to head the caretaker administration before Karki’s appointment. He also defeated the four-time former prime minister in Jhapa-5 constituency, represented by Oli. The Shah-led government has unveiled an ambitious 100-point governance reform agenda, including plans to form an investigation committee to probe the assets of politicians and senior state officials.
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The agenda was announced on the same day Oli and the author were detained. The inquiry commission had earlier recommended prosecution of Oli and other officials for “neglect” over their failure to stop security forces from opening fire on protesters.He has denied ordering to open fire on the protesters.