Home Minister Sudan Gurung steps down

Home Minister Sudan Gurung stepped down from his position on Wednesday.

His resignation follows escalating controversy over his controversial investments relating to businessperson Deepak Bhatta, who is currently being investigated in a money laundering case.

Announcing his decision on social media, Gurung said he resigned to ensure a fair and impartial investigation and to avoid any potential conflict of interest while in office. “I have stepped down from the post of Home Minister, effective today, to allow a transparent investigation into matters concerning me,” he stated.

He added that he has taken public concerns seriously, especially questions surrounding his investments, including shares.

Gurung emphasised that ethics should take precedence over holding office and that public trust is of utmost importance. “Public life must remain clean, and leadership must be answerable. When questions arise about a government built on sacrifice, the appropriate response is integrity,” he said.

Earlier, Gurung had already committed to fully cooperating with the investigation after questions surfaced about his ties with Bhatta.

In his statement, Gurung went further, suggesting that the reality behind some media personalities’ sweat investments would also eventually come into light, hinting at potential conflicts of interest within the media sector.

This is the second ministerial-level resignation in the current administration led by Balendra Shah. Earlier, on April 9, Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister Deepak Kumar Sah was dismissed after the Rastriya Swatantra Party recommended his removal over violations of its code of conduct.