Arzu Rana Deuba – Artifex.News

Nepal’s former PM Deuba returns after over five months abroad for treatment

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:34:00 +0000

Nepal’s former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was physically assaulted and injured by the demonstrators during the deadly “Gen Z”-led anti-graft protests in September 2025, waves towards his supporters upon his arrival outside Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 13, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba returned to Nepal on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after spending more than five months abroad for medical treatment following injuries sustained during the Gen Z protests last year.

Mr. Deuba and his wife, former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were seriously injured during violent protests on September 9, 2025, when anti-government demonstrations led by the Gen Z movement swept across Nepal and resulted in the fall of the K.P. Sharma Oli government.

The couple travelled to Singapore in February for medical treatment.

Mr. Deuba, who is also the former president of Nepali Congress (NC), reportedly stayed in Hong Kong for a brief period as well.

According to his party leaders, Mr. Deuba landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu in the afternoon after completing his medical treatment.

The whereabouts of Ms. Rana remain unclear.

Mr. Deuba was received at the airport by senior NC leaders, including Purna Bahadur Khadka, Shashanka Koirala, Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi, among others.

Hundreds of party activists from across the country gathered near the airport to welcome the former Prime Minister, cheering as he arrived.

In an appeal issued after his arrival, Mr. Deuba said the mountains, green hills and vast plains of the Tarai had called him back home.

The former premier said he has returned not as a leader but as a lifelong citizen of the nation, ready to serve with humility, dedication, and love.

Mr. Deuba, 80, has served as Nepal’s Prime Minister five times between 1995 and 2022 and is a veteran NC leader. He became party president in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021.

During the Gen Z protest, Mr. Deuba was not holding any ministerial position. He was serving as a Member of Parliament and the party president.

Referring to NC, Mr. Deuba said the party is not just an organisation with a history of democracy but one that had survived decades of political struggle while preserving its existence and dignity.

The Balen Shah government had issued an arrest warrant against Deuba and Rana under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. However, it was later quashed by the Supreme Court.

Published – August 14, 2026 02:10 am IST

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Nepal SC bars arrest of ex-PM Deuba, wife in money laundering case

admin — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:23:00 +0000

Former Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
| Photo Credit: AP

Nepal’s Supreme Court on Monday (May 25, 2026) issued an interim order barring the arrest of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his spouse Arzu Rana Deuba in a money laundering case.

The Bench, comprising Justice Mahesh Sharma Paudel and Nityananda Pandey, while hearing the plea filed by the couple, questioned the issuing of an arrest warrant by the Kathmandu District Court.

The Kathmandu District Court had issued arrest warrants against Mr. Deuba and his wife on April 6, who had been abroad since February 26 seeking medical treatment.

Last year, thousands of youths under the banner of the Gen Z group staged anti-government protests in Kathmandu on September 8 and 9, in which 76 people were killed. Nineteen protesters were killed during the police firing on September 8, the first day of the Gen Z protests.

The Gen Z protesters also attacked Mr. Deuba’s residence, in which the couple suffered injuries.

After the attack, video clips showing a large amount of Nepalese currency as well as U.S. dollars burnt by the agitators became viral on social media.

The Money Laundering Department investigated the incident and also prepared a forensic report based on the burnt ashes of the paper notes.

The Supreme Court observed that due process was not followed while issuing the arrest warrant against Mr. Deuba and his wife, who is also the former Foreign Minister of the Himalayan nation.

The court directed the authorities not to arrest the Deuba couple.

Nepal Police had requested the Interpol to issue a red corner notice against Mr. Deuba and his wife. However, Interpol rejected the request, citing that the documents produced by the police were not sufficient.

Published – May 25, 2026 09:53 pm IST

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U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma visits Nepal to strengthen U.S.-Nepal partnership

admin — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 11:21:45 +0000

Richard Verma. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma on Friday (August 16, 2024) met Nepal Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and discussed various aspects of the bilateral ties, including development cooperation and mutual interests.

Mr. Verma, an Indian-American diplomat, is the senior-most official from the Joe Biden administration to visit Nepal since a change of government, in Nepal, and Mr. Oli assumed charge as the Prime Minister last month.

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Mr. Verma, who is on a one-day visit to Nepal, met Mr. Oli at Singha Durbar where discussions were held on bilateral relations and mutual interests.

“The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by the U.S. government in Nepal’s economic and social development since the 1950s and hoped for continued support in various areas in the days ahead,” The Kathmandu Post newspaper quoted an official from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat as saying.

Mr. Oli informed Mr. Verma that Nepal is in the process of graduating from a least developed country (LDC) by 2026 and that the laws on transitional justice are being formulated based on political consensus.

“Mr. Verma recalled the over the two-decade-long relationship between the two countries, noting that it is a matter of pride for the United States to be a partner in Nepal’s development,” the Prime Minister’s Secretariat said.

“The senior U.S. official also congratulated Nepal on nearing the conclusion of its transitional justice process,” the report said. Mr. Verma, who is also scheduled to meet President Ram Chandra Paudel, earlier met Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba.

“Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources of the United States Richard R. Verma paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba today. Various aspects of Nepal-U.S. relations, including development cooperation, were discussed in the meeting,” Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said.

“He is leading U.S. delegations to Nepal and India to “advance and support a prosperous, secure, and resilient future for both countries,” a U.S. State Department statement had said ahead of his visit.

Soon after landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Mr. Verma posted on X: “Kicking off this trip in Nepal with an amazing glimpse of the majestic Himalayas! Looking forward to engaging with Government of Nepal officials and others to strengthen U.S. and Nepal partnership in support of a more democratic, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nepal,” he added in the post.

“Apart from Rana Deuba, the delegation will meet with senior government officials, development professionals, and business leaders to discuss shared priorities in economic development, women’s empowerment, energy, and people-to-people ties,” the State Department statement said.

Earlier, Dean R. Thompson, the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, welcomed him at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu and then accompanied him in the formal meetings with “Nepal government officials, implementing partners, trailblazing women entrepreneurs, and our Embassy team. His (Verma’s) visit highlights our commitment to strong U.S.-Nepal bilateral relations, with the United States firmly supporting Nepal’s people, democracy, and economic prosperity,” Mr.. Thompson said in a post on X.

Mr. Verma also met the Embassy team and appreciated their work in what he described as “to advance U.S.-Nepal relations.” He also met the U.S. Marine Security Guard Detachment “to thank them for their dedicated service,” he said in yet another post. Mr. Verma will head to India for a visit from August 17 to 22.

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