THE CLIFF NEWS

In a chilling reminder of a past tragedy, prominent businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near Gandhi Maidan in Patna late on July 4, drawing strong political reactions and raising fresh concerns over law and order in Bihar. The killing mirrors the 2018 murder of his son, BJP leader Gunjan Khemka, who was gunned down under similarly mysterious circumstances. Confirming the incident, Patna Superintendent of Police Diksha said, “At around 11 PM on July 4, we received information that businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead in the south area of Gandhi Maidan. The crime scene has been secured. One bullet and one shell have been recovered from the spot.” The Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to be headed by SP City Central, to fast-track the probe. Police are currently analyzing CCTV footage and other forensic clues. Echoes of a Family TragedyThe murder is eerily similar to the 2018 killing of Gunjan Khemka, a BJP functionary and state convener of the party’s Small Industries Cell, who was shot dead at his factory in Hajipur. That incident had also sparked outrage, not just for the brutality but for the alleged apathy of top BJP leaders, which left the Khemka family deeply disappointed. During Gunjan’s funeral, many top Congress leaders visited the family to pay their respects, but senior BJP leaders were noticeably absent. The family, feeling hurt, even declined to take Gunjan’s body to the BJP office for last rites, despite earlier plans. “Gunjan worked tirelessly for the party, spending 3–4 hours every day, yet no minister even raised their voice after his killing,” said Ram Khemka, Gunjan’s uncle, at the Gulbi Ghat crematorium back then. Political Outrage Over Gopal Khemka’s KillingThe recent murder has triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties. RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari condemned the incident, saying, “It is very sad and shameful that a businessman was murdered in such a high-security zone. The police reached the spot two hours later, and this happened near the police headquarters. What else is this if not Gunda Raj?” Tiwari accused the Bihar government of being “asleep” and blamed Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, claiming his “crime bulletin” is of no use when such heinous crimes continue to occur unchecked. Public Reaction and ConcernsThe high-profile murder in a posh and politically sensitive area like Gandhi Maidan has left Patna residents shocked. With crime levels rising, many are now questioning the effectiveness of the state’s policing and governance mechanisms. Conclusion:The assassination of Gopal Khemka — just yards away from the heart of Bihar’s capital — raises serious alarms about public safety and political accountability. As investigations continue, both the public and political observers will be closely watching whether the state is able to deliver justice in a case that has reopened old wounds and exposed ongoing concerns in Bihar’s law enforcement system.

Bengaluru, July 4, 2025: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday questioned the state government’s decision to suspend five senior police officers, including IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash, in connection with the June 4 stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which killed 11 people during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations. Calling the suspension an “extreme step”, a division bench comprising Justices S.G. Pandit and T.M. Nadaf asked the state whether a lesser penalty, such as transferring the officers to different posts, might have been more appropriate. The bench was hearing the state’s appeal against the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order of July 1, which had quashed Vikash’s suspension and directed his immediate reinstatement. “You will have to justify whether it was proper to keep the officers under suspension, or, whether shifting them to another post would have been sufficient,” the bench told Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty, representing the state. Background of the Case The tragedy occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first-ever IPL title celebration at the stadium on June 4, after the franchise announced free passes for fans. Overwhelmed by the crowd surge, authorities were unable to manage the gathering, resulting in a stampede that claimed 11 lives and left several injured. A day later, the state government suspended five police officers, including then Police Commissioner B. Dayananda and Additional Commissioner (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, drawing criticism for scapegoating the officers without clear accountability being established. CAT’s Intervention and HC’s Response On July 1, the CAT ruled that the suspension of Vikash was “mechanical” and lacked adequate material justification. It also observed that the police had insufficient time to prepare for the crowd, noting that RCB had allegedly announced the celebration and free passes without police clearance. The tribunal not only ordered Vikash’s reinstatement, but also suggested the state consider similar action for the other four officers, a move the Karnataka government is now contesting in the high court. Advocate General’s Argument Arguing before the bench, Advocate General Shetty said the tribunal acted in haste and overstepped its jurisdiction by commenting on officers who were not party to the proceedings. He further claimed the suspended officers were guilty of dereliction of duty, stating: “I will be able to show from the records that the suspension order was justified.” He requested a stay on the tribunal’s order, arguing that reinstating officers during ongoing judicial and magisterial inquiries could interfere with the examination of witnesses and compromise the investigation. Court’s Observations and Next Steps The high court declined to stay the CAT’s order, scheduling the next hearing for July 9. However, the bench advised Vikash not to take any further steps until then, after learning that the officer had reported for duty in uniform on July 2, without a formal reinstatement order. Vikash’s counsel, senior advocate Dhyan Chinappa, assured the court that his client would exercise restraint. The case has reignited debate over accountability in public tragedies, with the tribunal’s findings pointing to poor coordination between event organizers (RCB) and law enforcement. The Karnataka government, meanwhile, insists that the officers’ suspensions were necessary to ensure an unbiased probe. As inquiries continue and public pressure mounts, all eyes are on the July 9 hearing, which will likely influence the future of the five officers and potentially shape how such incidents are handled in the future.