BJP leader and prominent Bihar-based businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near his residence in central Patna late on Friday night, triggering a political firestorm and renewed questions over law and order in the state.
The incident occurred near Hotel Panache in the Gandhi Maidan police station area, just steps from the local police outpost, when Khemka was returning to his home in the Twin Tower residential complex. He was shot at close range and succumbed to his injuries on the spot, police officials confirmed.
The attacker fled immediately after the shooting. Law enforcement authorities recovered a bullet and a shell casing from the scene, and an investigation is underway.
“At around 11 PM on 4 July, we received information from the Gandhi Maidan South area that businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead. As soon as the information was received, the police reached the hospital and the crime scene. The area has been cordoned off, and an investigation is underway. CCTV footage is being examined. Further action will be taken,” said City SP Central, Diksha.
The motive behind the killing remains unknown. However, Bihar police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder.
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Khemka was no stranger to personal tragedy. His son, Gunjan Khemka, was also murdered three years ago, in a case that had sparked similar public outrage at the time. Friday’s killing has led to renewed political attacks on the Nitish Kumar-led government.
Independent MP from Purnea, Pappu Yadav (Rajesh Ranjan), was among the first to reach the scene. In a post on X, he declared: “Bihar has become a sanctuary for criminals! Nitish ji, please spare Bihar.”
Yadav alleged that had the government acted decisively following the murder of Khemka’s son, the businessman might still be alive. “If the government at that time had not become a partner to the criminals and had taken strict action against them, Gopal Khemka would not have been murdered today,” he said.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also criticised the government in a sharp post on X. “A few steps away from the police station in Patna, a prominent Bihar businessman was shot dead! Hundreds of businessmen are being murdered in Bihar every month, but we can't call it a jungle raj? Because this is what the scriptures call media management, perception management, and image management.”
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