Bharat Tiwari encounter probe: Retired judge visits family in Bihar's Bhojpur
Synopsis
A retired High Court judge has begun ground-level hearings into the June 17 encounter death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bihar's Bhojpur — a case where the family insists he was shot after surrendering his weapon, directly contradicting the police's self-defence claim. With the family demanding a CBI probe and a Bihar Cabinet-ordered commission now in the field, the inquiry is shaping up as a direct test of accountability for the state's police force.
Key Takeaways
Retired High Court Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha led the judicial commission's first field visit to Bilauti village, Bhojpur, Bihar on 25 June .
Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was shot in a police encounter on 17 June under Shahpur police station and died during treatment.
Police claim officers fired in self-defence; the family alleges Tiwari was shot after discarding his weapon.
Mother Asha Devi has demanded strict action and a CBI investigation into her son's death.
The Bihar Cabinet approved the judicial commission prior to the visit; senior officials including DIG Satya Prakash and DM Tanay Sultania were present.
A judicial commission probing the controversial encounter death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari launched its first field investigation on Thursday, 25 June, with a commission-led team visiting Bilauti village in the Shahpur block of Bhojpur district, Bihar. The visit marks the formal ground-level beginning of an independent inquiry ordered by the Bihar government into a police shooting that has drawn sharp scrutiny from the victim's family and local residents.
Commission's First Field Visit
The inquiry team is headed by retired High Court Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha, appointed by the Bihar government to lead the judicial commission. During the visit, Justice Sinha and other commission members met Bharat Tiwari's family, recorded their accounts, and inspected the site where the incident occurred on 17 June.
The commission also requested written submissions from family members to supplement official records and other evidence gathered during the probe. Speaking to reporters, Justice Sinha confirmed this was the commission's first field visit since the inquiry was formally initiated, adding that the investigation would proceed after reviewing all representations and documentary evidence.
'The inquiry will be conducted impartially and all aspects of the case will be examined thoroughly,' Justice Sinha said.
Family Demands CBI Probe, Disputes Police Account
Bharat Tiwari's mother, Asha Devi, reiterated her demand for justice and called for strict action against those found responsible for her son's death. She also renewed the family's appeal for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, expressing confidence that the judicial process would surface the truth.
The family disputes the police version of events. According to police records, Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was shot during an encounter under the Shahpur police station area on 17 June and subsequently died during treatment. Police maintain that officers opened fire in self-defence. However, family members allege that Tiwari was shot after he had already discarded his weapon — a claim that directly contradicts the official account.
Senior Officials Present During Visit
Several senior district and police officials were present during the commission's field visit, including Deputy Inspector General of Police (Shahabad range) Satya Prakash, District Magistrate Tanay Sultania, and Superintendent of Police Raj. Their presence signals the administrative weight attached to the inquiry.
This comes after the Bihar Cabinet recently approved the constitution of the judicial commission — a step that followed sustained pressure from the family and public attention on the circumstances of Tiwari's death.
What Happens Next
Authorities are expected to continue gathering evidence, witness statements, and official records as the judicial inquiry progresses. The commission will review written submissions from the family alongside police records before drawing any conclusions. Whether the family's demand for a CBI investigation gains traction will likely depend on findings that emerge from this inquiry.
Point of View
But the real question is whether it will have teeth. Encounter deaths in Bihar follow a familiar arc — police claim self-defence, families allege extrajudicial killing, and inquiries move slowly. The family's demand for a CBI probe signals a fundamental distrust of state-level processes, which is itself a data point worth examining. If the commission's findings contradict the police account, the pressure for a CBI handover will be difficult to contain politically. The presence of senior district officials at the commission's first field visit is notable — it could reflect genuine cooperation or a form of institutional oversight that needs watching.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the judicial inquiry into Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's encounter?
It is an independent investigation ordered by the Bihar government into the encounter death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, who was shot by police on 17 June in Bilauti village, Bhojpur, and later died during treatment. The inquiry is led by retired High Court Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha, appointed to head the judicial commission.
What does the Tiwari family allege about the encounter?
The family disputes the police account of self-defence, alleging that Bharat Bhushan Tiwari was shot after he had already discarded his weapon. His mother, Asha Devi, has demanded strict action against those responsible and called for a CBI investigation.
Who is leading the judicial commission in the Bharat Tiwari case?
Retired High Court Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha is heading the judicial commission constituted by the Bihar government. He confirmed that 25 June's visit to Bilauti village was the commission's first field visit since the inquiry began.
Why is the family demanding a CBI probe?
The family has expressed distrust of the state-level inquiry process and believes a CBI investigation would be more impartial in uncovering the truth behind the encounter. Asha Devi, Tiwari's mother, reiterated this demand during the commission's visit on 25 June.
What are the next steps in the Bharat Tiwari encounter inquiry?
The commission will review written submissions from the family, official police records, and other available evidence before proceeding further. Authorities are expected to continue collecting witness statements as the judicial inquiry progresses.
