Patna Police
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Aman Shukla, the alleged mastermind of the PNB bank robbery case, was shot dead in broad daylight in Patna on Tuesday. The incident took place near Malahi Pakri Chowk under the Patrakar Nagar police station limits, where motorcycle-borne assailants carried out the attack.
The assailants opened fire on Shukla (38) in front of his wife and young son, triggering panic in the area. Shukla, who had several criminal cases registered against him, died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
According to police, Shukla was returning home on a motorcycle with his wife and eight-year-old son after the child’s therapy session. Near Vidyapuri Park, two men on a motorcycle intercepted him and fired several rounds at close range. He was hit in the head, chest and abdomen, leaving him dead at the scene. The brutal killing, witnessed by his family, spread fear among local residents.
Investigations have revealed that Shukla was far from an ordinary schoolteacher. While he taught English at several coaching institutes in Patna, police records identify him as the key conspirator in the 2020 robbery at the Anisabad branch of Punjab National Bank, in which ₹52 lakh was looted.
In the 2020 PNB robbery case, Shukla and his associate Harinarayan allegedly recruited individuals with no prior criminal background into their gang. Police later arrested Shukla, Harinarayan, Prafulla Anandpuri, Sonelal and Ganesh Buddha, recovering ₹33 lakh in cash, jewellery, liquor, firearms and motorcycles. Investigators had analysed more than 60 CCTV footages to trace Shukla.
Police describe Shukla as a highly cautious criminal who avoided using mobile phones or social media and stayed away from digital trails even during robberies. He was suspected to be involved in several loot cases in Muzaffarpur and Vaishali as well. After being released from jail in May 2025, he had resumed life as a teacher, attempting to lead a seemingly normal life.
Police are viewing the murder as a possible gang rivalry or fallout from an old dispute, including disagreements over the division of looted money. Preliminary findings suggest the attackers conducted reconnaissance before executing the shooting in front of his family.
City SP (East) Parichay Kumar said raids are underway based on CCTV footage and intelligence inputs. Images of the shooters and the motorcycle registration number have been captured, and four special teams have been formed. Police have expressed confidence that the sensational murder case will be cracked soon.
Meanwhile, continuous raids are being conducted to identify and arrest those involved, with police maintaining that a breakthrough is imminent.
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