No More Impunity Now — Probe Cash Hoards Found at Leaders’ Houses

The recent Gen Z protests have not only shaken Nepal’s streets but also exposed the depth of corruption within its political class. Protesters targeting the homes of former prime ministers, ministers, and top leaders found—or in some cases looted—large amounts of cash, gold, and expensive liquor. Video clips of burnt banknotes, rooms filled with jewellery, and bags stuffed with cash went viral, sparking widespread outrage. The revelations have left citizens wondering how leaders could accumulate such wealth without legitimate sources of income. The scale of what was discovered cannot be dismissed as an isolated or minor incident. Corruption in Nepal is well documented. From commissions paid by project contractors and business houses, to bribes for licenses and “fees” for transferring bureaucrats, leaders and officials have long been under public scrutiny. It is alleged that a large portion of such funds is channeled to prime ministers, ministers, senior bureaucrats, middlemen, and party backers. The cash, jewellery, and other valuables found during the protests point to the same entrenched pattern of accumulation through unethical means. For the young activists who led the Gen Z movement, the cash haul is further proof of the deeply rooted culture of impunity in the country. Apart from the two former prime ministers already implicated, many other leaders are suspected of hoarding cash and valuables in their homes, and they too must be investigated.