Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has demanded that Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary personally visit the family of Bharat Tiwari and offer an apology over the controversial Bhojpur encounter. The demand, made on 20 June, comes even as the state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, with a retired High Court judge set to examine the circumstances of the police operation.

Key Allegations by the Opposition

Tejashwi alleged that the Bihar government has failed to control crime across the state, claiming that innocent individuals are being targeted while those with criminal records continue to operate freely. He further accused the police machinery of being excessively focused on enforcing prohibition laws, arguing that this preoccupation — alongside alleged corruption and an illegal liquor trade — has eroded public trust in law enforcement.

The RJD leader stated that the Bharat Tiwari encounter appeared, in his assessment, to be a fake encounter. He pointed to viral videos and allegations raised by the victim's family members as grounds for serious doubt over the police's official account of events. Tejashwi also questioned the police decision to register an FIR against members of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari's family, demanding the government explain the legal basis for such action.

What the Government Has Done

The Bihar government has announced a judicial inquiry into the Bhojpur encounter. A retired High Court judge is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, scrutinise available evidence, and determine whether standard procedures were followed during the police operation. The probe was ordered amid mounting political pressure and public demands for an impartial review.

The Competing Claims

Police maintain that Bharat Tiwari opened fire during the operation, necessitating their response. However, family members and multiple political leaders have alleged that Tiwari had surrendered before the shooting occurred. These competing accounts have made the encounter one of the most contested law-and-order episodes in Bihar in recent months.

Notably, the Bharat Tiwari case has drawn scrutiny not just from the principal opposition but also from within the ruling alliance itself, underlining the depth of political unease over the incident.

Prince Yadav Death and CBI Demand

Tejashwi also raised the suspicious death of Prince Yadav, brother of prominent educator Roshan Anand, stating he had already flagged the matter before the Chief Minister. He reiterated his demand for a CBI investigation into that case, arguing that only an independent probe could establish the truth and ensure accountability.

The findings of the judicial inquiry into the Bharat Tiwari encounter are now expected to be pivotal in resolving the competing claims and determining whether police conduct met legal standards.