RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav slams Nitish Kumar over BJP leader Gopal Khemka’s murder, calling Bihar’s law and order a “Maha Jungle Raj.” The killing, echoing the earlier murder of Khemka’s son, has triggered political outrage and demands for a CBI probe. SIT formed to investigate the crime.
The brutal murder of prominent businessman and BJP leader Gopal Khemka late Friday night has unleashed a political storm in Bihar, with opposition parties severely criticizing the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for its alleged failure in maintaining law and order. Khemka, an influential industrialist with deep roots in Patna’s business community, was shot dead outside his residence, raising serious concerns about public safety even in the heart of the state capital.
Leading the charge was Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who did not mince words while condemning the incident. In an exclusive statement to IANS, Yadav declared that Bihar was now under a state of “Maha Jungle Raj,” accusing the NDA regime of allowing criminals to run rampant. “We are deeply saddened. Gopal Khemka was murdered yesterday, and his son was also murdered a few years ago—both during NDA rule. It is extremely disheartening,” Yadav said.
He went on to allege that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was in a “completely unconscious state” and disconnected from the worsening ground realities. “Crime is rising every day. The BJP and its allies have turned Bihar into a jungle raj where everyone is fleeing for safety,” he added.
Gopal Khemka’s murder has reopened old wounds for his family. In 2018, his son Gunjan Khemka was shot dead in a similarly brazen attack, also in Patna. That case remains unsolved, adding fuel to opposition claims that criminals in Bihar are operating with impunity.
Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav echoed the RJD’s concerns and demanded that the murder case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under Supreme Court supervision. “Some influential individual is clearly the mastermind behind this killing. No petty criminal would dare such an act in front of Patna Zone Police Headquarters without protection from powerful people,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Pappu Yadav also drew parallels between the two murders in the Khemka family, suggesting that the same perpetrator or group may be responsible and shielded by those in authority.
While the Opposition attacked the government, senior BJP leader and Patna MP Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed deep sorrow over the loss. “It’s a personal loss for Patna. Gopal Khemka was a senior businessman and social worker. His son’s murder shocked us earlier, and now this. It is deeply painful,” he stated.
Prasad said he had contacted top police officials and state authorities following the incident. The state government has since announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the murder. “We want quick justice, and the people of Patna demand it. This level of criminal audacity is intolerable,” Prasad emphasized.
However, he refrained from joining the political blame game. “I don’t want to get into counter-allegations. If needed, I can remind people what law and order looked like during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure. Right now, the government is alert and taking steps. We hope justice will be swift,” he said.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma assured a thorough and fast-paced investigation. “We have strong leads in this case and are also looking into possible connections to his son’s murder. Until the investigation is complete, we will not speculate on motives. But rest assured, no stone will be left unturned,” he told reporters.
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Khemka, who was known for maintaining a low profile, had built a sprawling business empire in and around Patna. He was the former owner of Magadh Hospital—once a top-tier private hospital in the city—and also owned several prominent medical stores. Additionally, he ran a petrol pump on Exhibition Road and owned two cardboard manufacturing units in Hajipur.
The murder has left the city’s business community in shock and reignited the debate over safety and governance in Bihar. As political tempers rise and investigations proceed, the public now looks toward the SIT for quick and decisive action.
