Nepal is facing a major political upheaval as the government has issued an arrest warrant against former Prime Minister and senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba over corruption allegations. The court issued the warrant following a request from the country’s money laundering investigation agency. The warrant also includes his wife, former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.
Currently, 79-year-old Deuba and his wife are abroad for medical treatment. Responding to the allegations on social media, Deuba denied all charges, calling them “baseless” and accusing authorities of spreading false propaganda against his family assets. He added that he has detailed his life openly in a recently published book. Authorities are reportedly considering issuing Interpol notices if necessary to ensure their appearance.
The anti-corruption drive comes under the government of 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah, who won a decisive victory in last September’s elections following widespread violent protests. The new administration has taken strict measures against former leaders, including arrests of ex-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, with Deuba now reportedly in the government’s crosshairs.
Back in September 2025, large-scale protests erupted across Nepal against corruption and financial mismanagement. During the unrest, Deuba’s residence was attacked, and videos emerged showing large sums of cash at his home. Deuba, however, has claimed that the videos were artificially created using AI and dismissed them as false evidence.