A prominent Patna-based businessman and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Gopal Khemka, was shot dead outside his residence on the night of July 4, 2025. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. near the Gandhi Maidan area. According to Patna Superintendent of Police Diksha, one bullet and a shell casing were recovered from the scene.
Khemka was attacked as he stepped out of his car near an apartment close to his home, which was located in a gated society near Hotel Panache, adjacent to Ramgulam Chowk, a central area in Patna. He was alone at the time of the shooting. The assailants, who remain unidentified, were riding a motorcycle. CCTV footage from the area is currently being reviewed by the police as part of their investigation.
Gopal Khemka was a well-known figure in Patna's business community and had ties to the BJP. He owned Magadh Hospital. Khemka had reportedly distanced himself from politics after his son's murder in 2018.
In a chilling parallel, Khemka's son, Gunjan Khemka, was also shot dead in December 2018. Gunjan, who was 37 at the time, was attacked outside his G.K. Cotton Mill factory in Hajipur. The assailant, riding a motorcycle without a license plate and wearing a helmet, fired three bullets at close range. Gunjan was also a BJP leader, serving as the convener of the party's Bihar Industry Cell. The murder occurred just 100 meters from the local police station, yet the attacker managed to escape.
The similarities between the two murders have raised concerns and prompted further investigation. Police are exploring all possible angles in the case, including potential links to the earlier murder of Gunjan Khemka. The investigation is ongoing.