Nepal issues arrest warrant for ex-PM Deuba in graft case

Nepal issues an arrest warrant for former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife in a money laundering probe, as the new government targets high-profile figures.

KATHMANDU: An arrest warrant has been issued for former Nepali prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba over alleged corruption and money laundering.

The warrant also targets his wife, former foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, following a request from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

Deuba, 79, who is currently abroad for medical treatment, rejected the accusations in a social media statement. He claimed an investigation into money laundering had been initiated against him and his family.

“False propaganda is being spread concerning my family’s property,” Deuba said.

The former prime minister stated that he and his wife were abroad for long-term medical treatment without providing further details.

Nepali media reported the couple was recently in Singapore, with police now seeking an Interpol notice.

This legal action comes one month after Prime Minister Balendra Shah won a landslide election victory on a platform of youth-driven political change. Deuba is a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party and served five terms as prime minister.

“My life has been an open book,” Deuba said. “I have spent my entire life striving for the establishment of a democratic system of governance in Nepal.”

Last month, authorities arrested former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak for their alleged roles in a deadly crackdown on anti-corruption protests.

Those youth-led protests in September 2025 began in Kathmandu and spread nationwide, fueled by frustration over corruption and economic hardship. Protesters eventually set fire to the parliament building and toppled the government.

Deuba’s home was among the buildings torched during the unrest, with videos of the attack circulating widely online. Bundles of cash were reportedly discovered at the property.

In a statement to the investigation commission, Deuba claimed videos from the incident “must be AI-generated”. He described the situation as a conspiracy, although he said he did not know who was behind it.

The commission has recommended further investigation into the cash allegedly found at Deuba’s home and other properties. Former energy minister Deepak Khadka was also arrested last month as part of a separate money laundering investigation.

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