. The Incident Unfolded
On the night of July 4, 2025, around 11:40 PM IST, Gopal Khemka, a well-known Patna-based businessman and former BJP leader, was shot dead near his residence in the Gandhi Maidan area when he alighted from his car near Twin Tower society, adjacent to Hotel Panache ndtv.com+15indianexpress.com+15m.economictimes.com+15.
CCTV footage captured a bike-borne assailant, clad in a blue shirt and black helmet, emerge from the shadows, approach Khemka as he waited in his car, fire multiple rounds at close range, and speed away ndtv.com+8indiatoday.in+8deccanherald.com+8. Police reported the recovery of one bullet and a shell casing from the scene livemint.com+11m.economictimes.com+11ndtv.com+11.
2. A Haunting Parallel: The 2018 Murder of Gunjan Khemka
In a chilling repeat, Gopal’s son, Gunjan Khemka, a BJP leader and industrialist, was similarly shot dead by an unidentified biker in broad daylight in December 2018 at his cotton factory in Hajipur youtube.com+15republicworld.com+15hindustantimes.com+15. The striking resemblance between the two crimes—father and son, public ambushes, bike-riding gunmen—raises alarm over a possible sinister link republicworld.com.
3. Delayed Police Arrival & Forensic Response
While police claim to have secured the scene “immediately” and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) hindustantimes.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1, Khemka family sources and his guard reported a three-hour delay, with police arriving only around 2:30 AM m.economictimes.com+15hindustantimes.com+15ndtv.com+15. This discrepancy has raised serious questions about law enforcement’s responsiveness and transparency.
4. Political Fallout & Rising Voices of Criticism
The murder has sparked a fierce debate over Bihar’s governance and safety climate:
- Prashant Kishor likened the situation to “jungle raj,” comparing it unfavorably to both Lalu and Nitish Kumar eras m.economictimes.comlivemint.com+15ndtv.com+15m.economictimes.com+15ndtv.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
- RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav demanded a CBI probe, calling for urgent accountability m.economictimes.com+4indianexpress.com+4ndtv.com+4.
- The state Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, convened a high-level meeting with the DGP and police officials, issuing directives to expedite the investigation and hold law enforcement officers accountable in cases of negligence .
Across the spectrum, opposition leaders warn that violence against prominent figures is symptomatic of deeper law-and-order issues in Bihar m.economictimes.com+2ndtv.com+2indianexpress.com+2.
5. Profile: Who Was Gopal Khemka?
Gopal was a low-profile yet influential entrepreneur, known for founding Magadh Hospital, running pharmaceutical outlets, owning a petrol pump, cardboard factories, and holding real estate in Patna youtube.com+8hindustantimes.com+8indianexpress.com+8.
A former BJP leader, he had stepped back from active politics following his son’s killing in 2018 m.economictimes.com+7hindustantimes.com+7deccanherald.com+7. He leaves behind another son, a doctor, and a daughter living overseas indianexpress.com.
6. Investigation Status: SIT & CCTV Analysis
The SIT, led by SP City Central Diksha, has been formed to steer the investigation ndtv.com+7livemint.com+7timesofindia.indiatimes.com+7. Police are thoroughly reviewing CCTV footage from multiple angles and locations . Preliminary leads indicate the possibility of criminal prior surveillance, hinting at premeditated planning .
Authorities are also exploring his past business rivalries and the unresolved case of his son’s murder for possible connections deccanherald.com+3republicworld.com+3republicworld.com+3.
7. Questions Surrounding Safety and Accountability
This brutal murder, near a police station in a well-populated area, highlights major failures in protective and punitive measures. That both father and son could be killed in nearly identical scenarios underscores a failed system of deterrence.
The prominent delay in police response adds fuel to public suspicions of apathy and incompetence .
8. What to Watch Going Forward
- Release of enhanced CCTV and forensic data, potentially unveiling the assailant’s identity.
- Outcome of the family’s demand for a CBI investigation—will it escalate beyond state-level accountability?
- Possible political ripple effects ahead of upcoming elections, especially around crime in urban centers.
- Revival of the 2018 Gunjan Khemka case—will unresolved questions now find new urgency?
9. In Summary: Emblematic of Larger Failings
The murder of Gopal Khemka is far more than an isolated act of violence—it mirrors a broader crisis of criminal impunity, dimensions of political undercurrents, and a failure of law enforcement systems. The unsettling parallels with his son’s killing demand scrutiny, transparency, and legal rigor.
🔍 A Deep-Dive Takeaway
This case breaches beyond personal tragedy—it challenges trust in public institutions, tests political will, and demands serious overhaul of crime response infrastructure in Bihar.
