Former Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba returns home, faces graft probe and arrest warrant

Nepal's former prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, has returned to the capital, Kathmandu, after a nearly six-month absence for medical treatment abroad. His arrival on August 13 comes amid a looming arrest warrant related to money laundering charges, casting a shadow over his homecoming.

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is our guardian and a guardian of this nation

Deuba, a veteran leader of the opposition Nepali Congress party, was issued an arrest warrant in April. This action places him as the latest high-profile figure targeted by the current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The charges stem from allegations of money laundering, though Deuba, who is 80 years old, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

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We are grateful for the freedom and rights he gave us

Despite the legal challenges, Deuba is set to participate in a three-day assembly of his party, commencing on August 14. His return was met with a show of support from hundreds of supporters who lined the streets leading to Tribhuvan Airport. Supporters expressed gratitude for his past leadership, with one attendee calling him "our guardian and a guardian of this nation."

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We are giving security for him at the airport and to his rally because he is a former prime minister

Authorities have also extended the investigation to Deuba's wife, former foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, for whom an arrest warrant has also been issued. This development follows Prime Minister Shah's administration's intensified crackdown on political figures since taking power, including the brief arrests of former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak in connection with protests in September 2025. The protests, initially sparked by a social media ban, reflected deep-seated public frustration over corruption and economic hardship in Nepal.

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This is a conspiracy, although I do not know who is behind it