Patna High Court
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Patna High Court concerning the death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, a resident of Bilauti village under Shahpur police station in Bhojpur district, who was killed in a police encounter.
Advocate Mukesh Kumar has sought a fair and impartial investigation into the incident, along with legal action against the police officials found responsible.
The advocate has also urged for an early hearing of the PIL before the division bench led by Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai. The petition calls for an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
According to the petitioner, a video had surfaced on social media prior to the incident, allegedly showing Tiwari holding a pistol. The advocate questioned why no attempt was made at that time to arrest him or seize the weapon if he was indeed armed.
Tiwari’s family has alleged that the encounter was fake. They claim that he was unarmed at the time of the incident and had already surrendered. Following protests by the family, the police registered an FIR against the deceased’s father, brother, and some local residents.
Meanwhile, the police maintain that Tiwari fired between 10 and 12 rounds at officers. They stated that retaliatory firing was carried out in self-defence, during which he was killed.
The incident took place on June 17, 2026 in Bilauti village of Shahpur police station area in Bhojpur district. Since the encounter, the case has sparked political and social debate.
As part of initial action, four police personnel have been suspended. Reports also indicate that the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahpur police station has been suspended.
The state government has announced that the case will be investigated by a retired High Court judge. However, the petitioner pointed out that despite the announcement of a judicial inquiry on Saturday, no formal notification has yet been issued.
The PIL also seeks security for Tiwari’s family. Advocate Mukesh Kumar stated that only a fair investigation and appropriate action against those responsible would bring out the truth in the case.
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