Accused in Gopal Khemka murder case killed in encounter

In Bihar, an accused in the murder of businessman and BJP leader Gopal Khemka was shot dead in a police encounter on Tuesday early hours. Vikas allegedly accompanied the shooter, Umesh, when he shot Khemka dead right outside the gates of his Patna residence. He was killed in an encounter with police in the capital's Malsalami area. Earlier, cops arrested Umesh, the main shooter accused of murdering the businessman. “However, Raja opened fire at the police after which the accused was shot in the ensuing gun battle. The connection of Raja is yet to be fully established, but the police had gone to question him for his dubious role, as he came across as a supplier of illegal weapons and he is suspected to have made available the weapon used in the murder at the behest of Umesh alias Vijay Yadav, who is in the police net,” said Patna senior SP Kartikey Sharma.

#WATCH | Patna | On reports of the accused in Patna businessman Gopal Khemka's murder killed in a police encounter, JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan says, "As per the information we have received, Police have killed an accused in the Khemka murder case who tried to attack police.… pic.twitter.com/YQxmhwOIXL

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025

“Umesh had told the police during interrogation that the contract for killing was given for Rs10 lakh and Rs1 lakh had been paid. The police is also said to have recovered a weapon from the river bank,” said the officer. The police is also said to have recovered a weapon from the river bank,” said the officer."Wanted criminal Vikas aka Raja was killed in a police encounter near Damaiya ghat around 2.45 am. One pistol, one bullet and a cartridge were recovered from the site. The body has been sent to Nalanda Medical College, Patna, for post-mortem," Bihar Police said in an official statement.

#WATCH | Bihar | Visuals from the site of the reported encounter of an accused in the businessman Gopal Khemka's murder in Patna pic.twitter.com/TvYjtvpQmE

— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025

The special investigation team (SIT) had picked up Umesh from his house, when he returned after dropping his children. “He is suspected to be the shooter and was hiding in his house,” said the police officer, adding the bike used in the murder was also recovered from him, pistol, 80 cartridges, two mobile phones and Rs1 lakh in cash.According to police, Raja had allegedly supplied the weapon used to kill Khemka and was linked to shooter Umesh, the prime suspect in the case.