Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigns over financial scrutiny and investment links
Guwahati: Nepal’s Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned from his post on Wednesday, April 22, just weeks after taking office, amid growing scrutiny over his financial dealings.
He shared the decision through a Facebook post, saying he was stepping down with immediate effect. Gurung explained that his resignation would allow any investigation related to him to proceed without interference and without raising concerns about misuse of power.
He also addressed the questions raised about his investments, including his shareholdings, stating that he takes public concerns seriously. Gurung said that for him, maintaining ethical standards is more important than holding a position, and that public trust must be protected at all costs.
Referring to the ongoing youth-led protests in Nepal, he noted that the movement has been calling for clean governance, transparency and accountability. He said the message from the protests is clear, those in public office must remain responsible and answerable to the people.
Gurung, who became a known face during last September’s protests, was appointed Home Minister on March 27 after Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party assumed office.
However, his involvement in the Gen Z protests had earlier drawn criticism, as he belongs to the millennial age group, not Gen Z, which organised the demonstrations demanding action against corruption.
In a separate development, police recently arrested businessman Deepak Bhatt in connection with a money laundering case. Media reports have also noted Gurung’s alleged links with Bhatt, along with concerns over certain financial transactions.
His appointment had surprised many, but he acted quickly after taking charge. On March 28, just a day after the new government was formed, authorities arrested former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
The two leaders were taken into custody in the early hours of March 28, just a day after the new government came to power. Police linked the action to deaths reported on September 8, the opening day of the Gen Z protests, citing findings of a panel that examined the incidents over September 8 and 9. Both were released later.
Gurung’s controversy has put the Shah government on the defensive, as media scrutiny grows over whether it is living up to its anti-corruption claims.