The shocking murder of Magadh Hospital owner and prominent businessman Gopal Khemka near Patna’s Gandhi Maidan has set off a political storm in Bihar, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launching a blistering attack on the Nitish Kumar-led government. The high-profile killing, just months ahead of the state Assembly elections, has brought the spotlight back on Bihar’s worsening law and order situation.
Khemka was gunned down around 11:40 PM on Friday night, barely steps from the Panache Hotel and within striking distance of the local police station. Eyewitnesses claim the businessman was ambushed by bike-borne assailants while stepping out of his car. The attackers fled the scene unhindered, and shockingly, the police reportedly reached the location almost three hours later.
Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition, took to social media to express his outrage: “A prominent businessman has been murdered just meters away from the police station in Patna. Yet, we are told this isn’t Jungle Raj? Hundreds of such cases go unreported while the government engages in media management and perception building.”
The former Deputy Chief Minister didn’t stop there, accusing the NDA regime of shielding criminals and allowing a complete breakdown of public safety in the state. His remarks echoed the concerns of several Opposition leaders and citizens who say crimes against businessmen, professionals, and ordinary people have become alarmingly frequent under the current administration.
Joining the chorus of condemnation, Independent MP Pappu Yadav demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder and questioned the very fabric of governance in Bihar. He described the killing as a failure of the state machinery and said the morale of criminals was at an all-time high.
Meanwhile, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar tried to calm tensions, stating that the state DGP had taken swift action and an SIT (Special Investigation Team) was formed under the City SP to probe the murder from all angles. But public trust remains severely dented.
Khemka’s family, devastated and furious, blamed the police for negligence and pointed to the eerie similarity with the 2018 killing of Gopal’s son, Gunjan Khemka — a case that still lingers unresolved. They say Gopal had received threats in the past and had raised concerns, but no adequate protection was provided.
