Veteran Bihar Businessman Gopal Khemka Shot Dead Outside Patna Home, Echoes Son&rsquo;s 2018 Murder
In a chilling replay of a six-year-old tragedy, prominent Bihar businessman and BJP leader Gopal Khemka was shot dead late Friday night outside his residence in the heart of Patna. The brazen murder, eerily reminiscent of his son Gunjan Khemka&rsquo;s 2018 killing, has triggered public outrage and renewed scrutiny of Bihar&rsquo;s deteriorating law and order situation.
According to police sources, the fatal attack occurred around 11 PM near Hotel Panache, located within the Gandhi Maidan police station limits. Khemka, who was returning home to his society residence adjacent to the hotel, was reportedly ambushed by unidentified assailants just metres from his doorstep.
Senior police officials rushed to the spot soon after receiving a distress call. Patna Superintendent of Police, Diksha, confirmed the killing: &ldquo;At around 11 PM on the night of 4 July, we received information that businessman Gopal Khemka had been shot dead in the southern part of Gandhi Maidan. The scene was immediately secured, and our teams launched a forensic inspection.&rdquo;
The SP further revealed that a bullet and one empty shell casing had been recovered from the site. &ldquo;Preliminary evidence suggests Khemka died on the spot,&rdquo; she stated. Surveillance footage from nearby CCTV cameras is being reviewed to identify the attackers and trace their escape route.
The high-profile killing has sent shockwaves through Bihar&rsquo;s business and political circles, not least because of its striking similarity to the murder of Khemka&rsquo;s son, Gunjan, who was gunned down outside his factory gate in Hajipur&rsquo;s industrial area in December 2018. That case remains unsolved to this day.
On Saturday morning, Independent MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, visited the crime scene. In a scathing indictment of the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, Yadav accused the administration of enabling a culture of impunity.
&ldquo;Bihar has become a sanctuary for criminals!&rdquo; Yadav posted on X. &ldquo;If strict action had been taken when Gunjan was killed, Gopal Khemka would still be alive today.&rdquo;
He further alleged that the state has turned into a breeding ground for organised crime under what he described as a &ldquo;cruel mega-thug regime.&rdquo; In a second post, Yadav recalled visiting the Khemka family after Gunjan&rsquo;s murder in 2018, lamenting that justice was never served. &ldquo;The government then chose to protect criminals instead of punishing them,&rdquo; he wrote.
Friday night&rsquo;s killing marks yet another grim chapter in Bihar&rsquo;s struggle to contain targeted attacks on businessmen and high-profile individuals. With police now probing whether the latest murder is linked to the unresolved 2018 case, public pressure is mounting for swift justice &mdash; this time before history repeats itself yet again.

Gopal Khemka Businessmen murdered in Patna

Businessman Gopal Khemka gunned down in Patna, echoing 2018 murder of his son Gunjan

BJP Leader Gopal Khemka Shot Dead Outside Patna Home

Businessman Gopal Khemka gunned down in Patna, echoing 2018 murder of his son Gunjan

July 5, 2025 | 14:28 IST