Buxar MP seeks Lok Sabha Speaker's help after IPS officer sends ₹5 crore defamation notice
Synopsis
A ₹5 crore defamation notice from a serving IPS officer to an elected MP has landed in the Lok Sabha Speaker's lap. Buxar's Sudhakar Singh says the notice — tied to his questions about a suspicious death and alleged staged encounter in Bihar's Bhojpur district — amounts to pressure on a parliamentarian, and he wants the Committee of Privileges to decide if that crosses a constitutional line.
Key Takeaways
Buxar MP Sudhakar Singh (RJD) has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking intervention over a ₹5 crore defamation notice he received from IPS officer Kundan Krishnan .
The notice, sent through Krishnan's personal counsel, demands a public apology and warns of civil and criminal proceedings.
The row originates from the suspicious death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari and allegations of a staged encounter in Bilauti village, Bhojpur district, Bihar .
Krishnan was serving as Director General of the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) at the time of the alleged incident.
Singh has invoked Article 105 of the Constitution and requested that the matter be referred to Parliament's Committee of Privileges if a prima facie breach is established.
A judicial inquiry into Tiwari's death has reportedly been constituted by the Bihar government, but its findings have not yet been made public.
Buxar MP Sudhakar Singh has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking intervention after receiving a ₹5 crore defamation notice from senior IPS officer Kundan Krishnan, escalating a controversy rooted in the suspicious death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari and allegations of a staged encounter in Bilauti village of Bhojpur district, Bihar. The letter, sent on 19 October 2026, requests a privilege inquiry and marks the first time the matter has formally reached Parliament.
The Defamation Notice
According to Sudhakar Singh, the notice was sent by Krishnan through his personal counsel, demanding a public apology and warning of a civil defamation suit seeking ₹5 crore in damages, alongside possible criminal proceedings. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP has expressed concern that such legal action could dissuade elected representatives from raising issues of public interest on the floor of Parliament. The alleged intent behind the notice has not been independently verified.
The Bilauti Incident: What Is Known
The controversy originates from the death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village, Bhojpur district, with opposition voices alleging it was a staged encounter. According to Singh's letter, police personnel allegedly involved in the incident have been suspended and an FIR has been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the deceased's mother. A judicial inquiry has reportedly been constituted by the Bihar state government, though its findings have not yet been made public. Individual responsibility, the MP acknowledged, can only be determined through a proper investigation.
Singh's Demands: Chain of Command Under Scrutiny
Krishnan was serving as Director General of the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) at the time of the alleged incident. Singh has argued that any examination of accountability must not be confined to lower-ranking personnel and has called for a review of the chain of command, including orders issued, communications between officers, and information conveyed to police headquarters. He has also invoked Article 105 of the Constitution, which safeguards parliamentary freedom of speech and the privileges of members, to argue that elected representatives must be free to raise questions about administrative actions and the possible misuse of official authority.
Key Questions Raised Before the Speaker
In his letter, Singh has asked the Speaker to examine whether Krishnan issued the legal notice in a personal capacity and whether he obtained authorisation from the Bihar government or the Central government before doing so. He has also cited Rule 17 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and sought a clarification on its applicability to the situation. A related question concerns the private law firm that dispatched the notice — the MP has sought to determine whether it acted solely for Krishnan personally or had a broader mandate from the Bihar government.
What Happens Next
Singh has urged the Speaker to initiate a formal inquiry into the episode and, if sufficient grounds are established, refer the matter to Parliament's Committee of Privileges. He has also called for appropriate remedial action if evidence emerges that an elected representative faced pressure or retaliation for discharging parliamentary duties. The status of the judicial inquiry into Tiwari's death remains unknown pending disclosure by the state government. How the Speaker's office responds could set a precedent for how parliamentary privilege interacts with legal action initiated by serving officials.
Point of View
It could clarify, for the first time in recent memory, whether a defamation notice from a government officer to an MP constitutes a breach of privilege. The deeper story, however, remains unresolved: the judicial inquiry into Tiwari's death has produced no public findings, and the question of whether senior officers in the chain of command bear accountability has not been answered. Parliament becoming the venue for this fight is as much a symptom of that unresolved accountability gap as it is a story about privilege law.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Buxar MP Sudhakar Singh write to the Lok Sabha Speaker?
Singh wrote to Speaker Om Birla seeking intervention after receiving a ₹5 crore defamation notice from IPS officer Kundan Krishnan, who served as Director General of the Bihar STF. The MP argued the notice could constitute a breach of parliamentary privilege and requested a referral to the Committee of Privileges if a prima facie case is made out.
What is the Bilauti staged encounter controversy in Bihar?
The controversy concerns the suspicious death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village, Bhojpur district, Bihar, where allegations of a staged encounter have been raised. Police personnel allegedly involved have been suspended, an FIR has been filed on the basis of the deceased's mother's complaint, and the Bihar government has reportedly constituted a judicial inquiry whose findings have not been made public.
What does Article 105 of the Constitution say, and why has Singh invoked it?
Article 105 of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech to members of Parliament within Parliament and protects them from legal proceedings in respect of anything said or voted on in Parliament. Singh invoked it to argue that receiving a defamation notice for raising parliamentary questions about an official's conduct amounts to an attempt to suppress legitimate legislative scrutiny.
Who is Kundan Krishnan, and what is his alleged role in the case?
Kundan Krishnan is a senior IPS officer who was serving as Director General of the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) at the time of the alleged incident in Bilauti village. Singh's letter argues that any accountability inquiry must examine the chain of command, including Krishnan's role, and must not be restricted to lower-ranking police personnel.
What could happen next if the Lok Sabha Speaker acts on Singh's letter?
If the Speaker finds a prima facie case of breach of parliamentary privilege, the matter could be referred to Parliament's Committee of Privileges for a formal inquiry. The Speaker may also seek clarification on whether Krishnan issued the notice with or without government authorisation, and whether the private law firm involved acted solely in his personal capacity.
