Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Aug 3: A driver has been arrested for allegedly murdering Dehri-Dalmianagar Municipal Council Executive Officer Vimal Kumar during a journey to Patna, with the victim's family alleging a political conspiracy involving a local MLA. The legislator has denied the allegations.
According to police, Vimal Kumar left Rohtas for Patna on Saturday evening after attending an official programme. He was travelling with his driver, Mithilesh Kumar, who has now been arrested in connection with the murder.
Aurangabad Superintendent of Police Upendra Nath Verma said the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Barun Police Station.
"The driver initially informed police that unidentified attackers had assaulted the executive officer and that he died while being taken to hospital," the SP said.
Police registered a murder case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators said inconsistencies in the driver's statements raised suspicion and eventually led to his arrest.
Magadh Range Inspector General Vikas Vaibhav said the driver initially claimed that two Apache motorcycles had intercepted the vehicle but later changed his version, stating that only one motorcycle was involved.
"As the story kept changing, police became suspicious," Vaibhav said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that he had been under stress because of long working hours and frequent arguments with his employer. While travelling to Patna, he reportedly wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself but was instructed to continue driving.
According to police, the argument escalated, following which the driver allegedly stopped the vehicle, picked up an iron rod kept inside the car, struck the vehicle and then repeatedly attacked the executive officer after he stepped out.
However, the victim's wife, Babita Kumari, alleged that the murder was part of a political conspiracy. She claimed that a local MLA had been pressuring her husband for money.
"He used to call every day. My husband would tell me, 'I don't do anything wrong. How will I arrange Rs 50 lakh?' We had even discussed seeking a transfer to a smaller place rather than doing anything illegal," she alleged, adding that her husband had met the MLA on July 29.
The allegations triggered a political controversy, with Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav demanding a judicial inquiry into the case.
"Within days, Bihar has witnessed the killing of a second officer," Yadav said, urging that the MLA's name be included in the FIR and a judicial probe ordered.
The MLA denied the allegations in a statement posted on social media, describing the incident as "personally heartbreaking".
He said the police investigation had already been presented by the Inspector General of Police and that the accused had been arrested.
"I stand with the victim's family, and ensuring they receive justice remains my priority. A woman has lost her husband to this tragic crime. This is not the time to play politics," the statement said.
The incident comes just over three months after Executive Officer Krishna Bhushan Kumar was shot dead inside the Sultanganj Municipal Council office in Bhagalpur. In that case, the main accused, Ramdhani Yadav, husband of the council's deputy chairperson, was killed in a police encounter, while two others were arrested. Investigators are continuing to examine allegations of a wider conspiracy.
Following the post-mortem examination on Sunday, Vimal Kumar's body was taken to his residence in Danapur, Patna.
More than 50 executive officers staged a protest with the body and announced an indefinite strike, demanding enhanced security, compensation and other safeguards. The protesters also attempted to march to the Chief Minister's residence but were stopped by police.
The protest was called off after senior government officials assured the officers that a meeting would be held to discuss their demands.