Sudhan Gurung Returns to Home Ministry After Probe Clearance

Sudhan Gurung has returned to the Home Ministry 47 days after resigning as Home Minister. His comeback was widely expected from the time he stepped down, and it became possible after a probe committee completed the formal process of clearing him. Gurung had resigned after facing pressure over allegations linked to businessman Deepak Bhatta and questions raised about his asset details. The report says he was forced to leave the ministry only 27 days after becoming Home Minister, but he remained confident that he would return to the post after being cleared by an investigation.

After Gurung’s resignation, Prime Minister Balendra Shah kept the Home Ministry under himself instead of appointing another minister. The ministry was not fully handed over to a new political leadership, and people close to Gurung continued to remain active there. The government later formed a probe committee led by former judge Achyut Prasad Bhandari. After the committee submitted its report, Gurung was brought back to the Home Ministry. The report has not yet been made public, but the Council of Ministers has decided to receive it. Leaders close to Gurung claim that he has now returned stronger than before and that an understanding has been reached not to change the Home Minister as long as the Balen-led government remains in power.