Kathmandu, Interim Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has taken decisive action. Aryal has ordered the reopening of corruption files involving prominent political figures such as KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, and Deepak Khadka, among others. His directive has stirred considerable unrest within both the UML and Nepali Congress parties.

Aryal has warned that all previously stalled investigations, hidden under political cover, will now be reopened and those involved will be prosecuted. Many leaders from UML and Congress have been implicated in various corruption cases but had evaded justice due to their power and political protection.

Top leaders of these parties are allegedly involved in major scandals, including the Fake Bhutanese Refugee scam, Giribandhu Tea Estate land case, wide-body aircraft purchase, Lalita Niwas land grab, and the Omni case. If investigations proceed fairly, it appears likely that figures ranging from Oli to Arzu could end up in jail.

Previously, police officers who initiated investigations into these scandals were repeatedly transferred to suppress progress.

Among these scandals, the Fake Bhutanese Refugee case seems most likely to land multiple leaders in jail, with names ranging from Arzu to Oli linked to it. After the recent UML-Congress coalition government came to power, criticism mounted as the government appeared preoccupied with concealing its own wrongdoings.

Following the collapse of that government, an interim administration was formed under the leadership of Sushila Karki. During a visit to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police at Maharajgunj—damaged during the recent “Gen-Z Movement”—Home Minister Aryal spoke with journalists and declared that all politically obstructed investigation files would now be reopened.

Aryal emphasized the need to ensure peace, security, and good governance in order to conduct the upcoming elections, saying:

“Whatever was blocked or distorted due to political connections—such things will no longer be tolerated,This government’s mandate is to ensure good governance. Without good governance, there can be no peace and security. And without peace and security, elections cannot be held within six months.”

During his inspection of the CIB office, Aryal instructed CIB Chief AIG Manoj KC to lift all obstructions related to corruption investigations. KC, who had previously investigated the Fake Bhutanese Refugee scam and arrested several high-profile leaders, was brought into CIB for this very purpose. However, he had faced repeated transfers by the past government due to his bold investigations.