Patna: A land dispute has emerged as the motive behind the killing of businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna, with police investigations revealing a carefully planned murder executed over months. According to officials, iron trader Ashok Sah, the alleged mastermind, confessed to hiring a shooter after Khemka repeatedly interfered in his land deals, damaging his business and social reputation.
Sah reportedly told interrogators, “Khemka would always get involved whenever I tried to buy land. He would offer lower rates and acquire the property, affecting my work and image. That’s why I conspired to eliminate him.”
The police have also arrested Umesh Kumar, the shooter, and uncovered a detailed timeline of the murder plot. Sah is said to have met Umesh at a wedding in Bihar Sharif around 18 months ago. Umesh later started doing small errands for him. In March, Sah purchased mobile phones and SIM cards—one set for himself and one for Umesh—to avoid detection. The two remained in touch through these devices.
By April, Sah had told Umesh on JP Ganga Path that he wanted Khemka “removed.” Initially hesitant due to the high cost demanded by an external shooter, Umesh volunteered to carry out the killing for Rs 4 lakh, taking Rs 50,000 in advance to pay his children’s school fees. In late June, Sah gave Umesh a 9 mm pistol and two cartridges.
Umesh practiced shooting in the riverine areas of Diyara and carried out five days of reconnaissance before the murder. On the night of 4 July, he ambushed Khemka outside his residence at Kataruka Niwas as the businessman returned from Bankipur Club, where he regularly played rummy.
CCTV footage captured the murder, and Umesh—disguised with a helmet—was seen fleeing the scene. His physical build helped police narrow down suspects. Officers reviewed surveillance footage along his escape route through key city landmarks like JP Golambar, SP Verma Road, and Chiraiyatand Bridge, eventually tracing him to Malsalami.
Police say Umesh returned home post-murder and later received Rs 3.5 lakh, a phone, and a SIM card from Sah. These items, along with the weapon and cartridges, were recovered from his residence. Investigators also discovered that Umesh had altered the number plate of the bike used in the crime.
Ashok Sah was arrested from an apartment in Patna. Originally from Mathuria Mohalla in Nalanda, he had shifted away two decades ago. A widower, he has three children and had transitioned from the iron trade into real estate.
In a new development, police will now seek court permission to examine Khemka’s electronic devices for further clues. The victim, Gopal Khemka, was also active in land dealings.
