Nepal Home Minister Resigns Over Money Laundering Ties

Nepal's Home Minister Sudhan Gurung resigned on April 22, 2026, less than a month after taking office, amid allegations of financial ties to a businessman under investigation for money laundering. Gurung, who assumed the role on March 27 following his election from Gorkha on March 5, announced his decision through a Facebook post, citing the need to ensure an impartial probe and preserve public trust.

The controversy centered on Gurung's reported shareholdings in Star Micro Insurance and Liberty Micro Insurance, companies linked to Deepak Bhatt, who was arrested earlier in April on money laundering charges. Documents revealed Gurung held shares valued at approximately 2.5 million Nepalese rupees each in the firms, which had not yet begun public trading. These investments, part of Gurung's declared assets totaling over 20 million rupees, raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given his oversight of law enforcement as Home Minister. Gurung had previously defended the holdings, stating they were acquired before his appointment and did not imply involvement in any wrongdoing. He also noted that the investigation into Bhatt fell under the Finance Ministry's...