Bihar opposition demands fair probe into EO murder, alleges MLA-police nexus

Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Tuesday alleged that the state government is shielding Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MLA Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Sonu Singh in the murder case of Municipal Executive Officer (EO) Vimal Kumar. Police have arrested the officer's driver, Mithilesh Kumar, in connection with the incident.

Vimal Kumar, EO of Dalmianagar Municipal Council in Rohtas district, was beaten to death on the night of August 1 while travelling to Patna in Aurangabad district. His wife, Babita Kumari, has accused the LJP (RV) MLA of involvement, claiming that the MLA frequently demanded ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh from her husband.

At a press conference at his residence in Patna, Yadav, who also serves as national working president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), said Magadh Range Inspector General (IG) Vikas Vaibhav shares a close relationship with the MLA. "The prime accused and murderer in this case is LJP (RV) MLA Sonu Singh. The government and police are making every possible attempt to protect him," Yadav said.

Yadav questioned the police theory that the driver killed the officer due to workload and denial of leave. He pointed out that the IG had reached the spot and issued a statement based on the driver's confession even before post-mortem and forensic reports were available. "Without the post-mortem and forensic report, I saw a video in which IG Saheb is saying that the driver is the murderer. The family members say many others are involved, including the MLA," he said.

Yadav also noted that the driver has changed his statements multiple times. He questioned why the police had not registered a named FIR against the MLA despite the extortion allegation. He further alleged that the IG runs a forum named "Let's Inspire Bihar" in which the MLA participates, and claimed the IG is related to a Deputy Chief Minister. "It is a matter of investigation," he added.

Yadav demanded a fair investigation into the case and a government job for the deceased officer's wife.

Meanwhile, Arti Kumari, wife of the arrested driver, claimed her husband was falsely implicated. "He cannot do such a thing. When I met him in jail, he told me he had done nothing and the police beat him badly to make him accept the murder," she said.

Attempts to reach IG Vikas Vaibhav for comment were unsuccessful.