Nepal’s Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned on Wednesday amid mounting scrutiny over his alleged financial links to a businessman Deepak Bhatta who is under investigation for money laundering.
Gurung announced his decision in a Facebook post: “To ensure an impartial investigation into matters related to me and to avoid any conflict of interest while in office or any impact on the process, I have resigned from the post of Home Minister, effective from today,” he wrote.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah has since assumed responsibility for the Home Ministry.
Deepak Bhatta’s money laundering probe has drawn public attention in recent days, raising questions about the minister’s financial dealings, including his investments in shares.
In his statement, Gurung said he had taken the concerns seriously, stressing that public trust and ethics should take precedence over holding office. He also referred to Gen-Z’s push for transparency and accountability in governance, saying it reinforces the need for clean public life.
Earlier this week, Gurung had denied wrongdoing, said there had been “a lot of rumours” and urged that decisions be based on evidence. He had also pledged to cooperate fully with any investigation and abide by decisions taken by his party.
His resignation marks the second ministerial exit from the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Earlier this month, Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Sah was removed from office following a recommendation from his party over alleged misuse of his position.
Sah’s dismissal came after an internal disciplinary review found that he had used his office to continue his wife in a government role, prompting his party to act.
Gurung’s resignation adds to the pressure on the Shah government, which has been facing increasing public scrutiny over governance and accountability.
