A chilling murder outside his Patna home has shaken the city. Prominent businessman and BJP leader Gopal Khemka was shot dead near his residence, just before the upcoming elections.
Despite the Patna police station being only 200 meters away from the crime scene, police reportedly arrived an hour and a half after the incident—even though Khemka’s family had immediately alerted them. This unacceptable delay has added to public anger and raised grave questions about the responsiveness and readiness of local law enforcement.
The opposition has seized on the murder as evidence of deteriorating law and order—or “jungle raj”—under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav emphasized businessman safety, accusing the government of failing despite previous criticisms of so-called jungle raj .
Congress has demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation, alleging administrative incompetence . Even strategists like Prashant Kishor have compared current governance to the chaos seen during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure.
In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured the public that perpetrators will not be spared and promised decisive action. The police, deploying extensive resources, have arrested multiple individuals in connection with the crime and are investigating potential security lapses.
In a post on X, Deputy CM Vijay Sinha declared that law enforcement has full authority to use "encounters" if required:
Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar visited the crime scene and stated that the investigation is “very close to cracking the case,” suggesting it could be resolved within 2–3 days. He confirmed that the police are approaching the investigation from multiple angles to ensure a thorough outcome
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is collecting forensic evidence and interviewing suspects linked to both current and historic attacks on the Khemka family.
Authorities are closely monitoring further leads, with a focus on whether the murder is part of a larger conspiracy or revenge cycle.
Bihar’s law-and-order performance is under intense scrutiny, with security for businessmen becoming a flashpoint in the ongoing election debate.
This murder is more than a violent crime—it has become a flashpoint in Bihar’s political and civic discourse, raising urgent questions about safety and administrative accountability.