Prominent Bihar businessman and BJP leader Gopal Khemka was fatally shot by a bike-borne assailant near his residence in Patna’s upscale Gandhi Maidan area on Friday night, sparking fresh concerns over the state’s law and order situation. The killing, occurring around 11:40 PM near Panache Hotel, comes six years after Khemka’s son, Gunjan, was murdered in a similar manner in Vaishali, amplifying public and political outrage ahead of the October-November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

Patna Central SP Diksha Kumari reported that police secured the crime scene, recovering one bullet and a cartridge. CCTV footage shows a man in a blue shirt firing at Khemka as he stepped out of his maroon car, then fleeing on a motorcycle. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by SP City Central, has been formed to probe the murder, with forensic experts analyzing evidence and exploring motives, including possible old enmity.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired a high-level law and order review meeting on Saturday at Sankalp, 01 Anne Marg, with DGP Vinay Kumar and senior officials. Kumar emphasized that “law and order is the government’s top priority” and ordered swift action against the culprits, warning of strict measures against negligent police personnel. DGP Kumar denied allegations of delayed response, stating police were informed at 12:30 AM by hospital authorities after Khemka’s family took him to a private hospital in Kankarbagh, with officers arriving at 12:40 AM.

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Khemka’s brother, Shankar, alleged police arrived nearly three hours later, at 2:30 AM, highlighting perceived inaction. Opposition leaders seized on the incident to criticize the Nitish Kumar-led BJP-JD(U) government. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav posted on X, “A few steps from a police station, a prominent businessman was shot dead! Hundreds of businessmen are murdered monthly, yet it’s not called jungle raj—thanks to media management.” Bihar Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathod echoed, “The government has failed to curb murder, rape, kidnapping, and extortion.” Purnea MP Pappu Yadav, who visited the family, called Bihar a “sanctuary for criminals,” noting that stricter action after Gunjan’s 2018 murder might have prevented this tragedy.

RJD’s Rishi Mishra told PTI, “The CM is in an unconscious state. Police are busy chasing liquor smugglers for profit, not gathering intelligence.” BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav defended the government but admitted the delay was concerning, urging severe punishment for the culprits.

Khemka, owner of Magadh Hospital and a Bankipore Club director, was a well-known figure in Patna’s business community. The murder, captured chillingly on CCTV, has intensified scrutiny on the NDA government’s governance claims, with the SIT tasked to deliver swift justice.

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