Former Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested early Saturday from his residence in Kathmandu on charges related to the deadly suppression of last year’s protests. Police said the 74-year-old leader was taken into custody and later admitted to a Kathmandu clinic for routine health checks due to his age and history of kidney transplants. Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also detained under the same investigation.

The arrests follow a panel’s recommendation to prosecute Oli and Lekhak for criminal negligence in handling the protests that erupted in September last year. The demonstrations began over a social media ban but escalated amid public anger over corruption and economic hardship. At least 70 people, mostly civilians, were killed when police opened fire during the unrest.

The dramatic arrests come just a day after 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s new prime minister, marking a tense political transition in the country.