Amid financial controversies reported to have surfaced during police custody statements regarding middleman Inam Sapkota and ongoing investigations into contracts signed during his tenure as health minister, the potential arrest of Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has sparked widespread commotion in national politics.
The leakage of statements and audio linked to middleman Inam Sapkota, currently in police custody, has sent shockwaves through state institutions. Allegations of an NRs 180 million financial deal to resolve party recognition through a special general convention have heated up Kathmandu's political corridors. This development has triggered a severe internal crisis within the Nepali Congress, which holds a weak presence in parliament with only 18 directly elected seats. Furthermore, police and investigative agencies have initiated detailed reviews of old files concerning health equipment procurement and contract management during Thapa’s tenure as health minister, fueling speculation of preparations for a possible arrest.
Against this backdrop, Congress President Thapa's unexpected Tuesday meeting with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli—whom Thapa had been reluctant to meet since the Gen-Z movement—is being viewed as highly significant. The public release of audio alleging an NRs 180 million transaction over party legitimacy, followed immediately by the appointment of a new police chief, alongside dialogue between Oli and Thapa, signals political maneuvering and strategic realignments in power dynamics.
Following the leadership change in Nepal Police, rising fears of crackdown or legal action have prompted emergency meetings and internal groundwork within the Nepali Congress to defend President Thapa and counter government moves. However, Thapa and his secretariat have denied any relation, association, or financial transaction with Inam Sapkota or any middleman, accusing the government of intentionally spreading arrest rumors to exact political vengeance and divert attention from other pressing issues.
