Patna: Four days after an FIR was registered against educator Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, in connection with an alleged firing incident outside a coaching institute in Patna, police have yet to secure his arrest.
A special team of the District Intelligence Unit (DIU) has been conducting raids at multiple locations, but officials have not disclosed Khan’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, Khan has approached a court seeking protection from arrest, and his plea is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday.
The case stems from an incident on the night of June 2, when stone-pelting and vandalism were reported at the Khan Global Studies coaching institute. Initially, Khan alleged that eight to ten rounds of firing had taken place during the attack.
However, after a preliminary investigation, police issued a statement in the early hours of June 3 saying there was no evidence of firing and that the incident involved stone-pelting and brick-batting. Khan later revised his version of events.
Subsequently, police arrested Roshan Anand, director of Gyan Bindu Coaching, along with three associates, and sent them to judicial custody. The investigation took a new turn on June 4 when Gyan Bindu Coaching released a video purportedly showing Khan’s bodyguards firing weapons during the incident.
Investigation Takes New Direction
Following the emergence of the video, police altered the course of the investigation. By then, investigators reportedly found no spent cartridges or other physical evidence at the scene.
Police later arrested two of Khan’s bodyguards and seized their firearms, which have been sent for forensic examination. Some other security personnel associated with Khan are reportedly absconding.
Based on statements allegedly made by the arrested bodyguards during interrogation, police registered an FIR against Khan under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to abetment, attempt to murder, and the Arms Act. According to police sources, the guards claimed Khan instructed them to open fire. These allegations are now part of the ongoing investigation.
Police Proceeding Cautiously
Sources in the police department said investigators are moving cautiously due to the large number of students and supporters who gather whenever police teams visit Khan’s coaching premises.
Officials fear that any sudden action could trigger unrest and create law-and-order challenges. As a result, the focus has shifted towards gathering evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny rather than making an immediate arrest.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma said the investigation is ongoing and that the seized weapons have been sent for forensic analysis. He added that police intend to take further action only after collecting sufficient evidence.
Echoes of a 2022 Case
The current situation has drawn comparisons with a 2022 case in which Khan and several other coaching teachers were named in an FIR following student protests over railway recruitment examinations.
At the time, police had refrained from making arrests, stating that being named in an FIR alone was insufficient grounds for detention without corroborative evidence. The case eventually lost momentum as investigators did not publicly present conclusive evidence linking the accused to the violence.
Forensic Reports Awaited
According to sources, police are now awaiting the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report on the seized firearms. Investigators are also examining whether any of the weapons used by the security personnel were unauthorized.
Officials believe the forensic findings will play a crucial role in determining the next course of action and could significantly strengthen the case if violations of the Arms Act are established.
Until then, the search for Khan continues as police intensify efforts to trace him while simultaneously building what they describe as a legally sustainable case.
