Patna: Public anger is mounting across Bihar over the alleged gang rape and suspicious death of a student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Patna, with opposition leaders questioning the pace and seriousness of the investigation.
The case has sparked intense political debate, after Rohini Acharya, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and daughter of former chief minister Lalu Prasad, launched a sharp attack on the state government, accusing it of shielding the accused and allowing time for evidence to be destroyed.
In a post on X, Acharya asked why no arrests had yet been made in the case. She questioned why the hostel owners, identified by police as the Agarwal couple, and their son — named in media reports — had not been taken into custody. She also raised concerns about Prabhat Memorial Hospital, where the student was admitted in critical condition, alleging that evidence had been tampered with and asking why the hospital had neither been sealed nor its doctor arrested.
“Is this an investigation, or a cover-up?” Acharya wrote, asking whether influential accused were being given time to manage the case and destroy evidence. Her remarks have been widely shared and have intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of the incident.
पूछता है बिहार.. कब होंगे आरोपी गिरफ़्तार ?
सवालों पर गौर फरमाए बिहार सरकार :
पटना हॉस्टल रेप कांड के मामले में ना तो अभी तक हॉस्टल संचालक अग्रवाल दंपत्ति की गिरफ़्तारी हुई , ना ही अग्रवाल दंपत्ति के आरोपी पुत्र की गिरफ़्तारी हुई है ??
ना ही साक्ष्यों के साथ आपराधिक छेड़ -… pic.twitter.com/uk8CRp7Suz
— Rohini Acharya (@RohiniAcharya2) January 18, 2026
Opposition leaders said the delay in arrests raised serious doubts about the impartiality of the probe. “If the investigation is fair, why has action not been taken yet?” an RJD leader said, adding that the government appeared either under pressure or complicit in protecting those accused.
The police administration, however, has maintained that the investigation is ongoing. Officials said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has expanded the scope of its inquiry and is examining all angles of the case. As part of this process, the SIT has visited multiple locations, including Prabhat Memorial Hospital, where documents and medical records were reviewed to determine whether there had been any attempt to destroy or alter evidence.
Senior police officers have said that conclusions will be drawn only after a thorough examination of facts. However, many residents and civil society groups argue that time is critical in cases of sexual violence and suspicious deaths, warning that delays can lead to the intimidation of witnesses and the loss of vital evidence.
