Bihar officer killed after denying driver toilet break, widow alleges MLA's role
Police say inconsistencies in the driver's account, including the absence of injuries and changing statements, led to his confession in the murder of Bihar's Sasaram Municipal Council Executive Officer Vimal Kumar. The case later took a political turn after the officer's wife accused an LJP(RV) MLA of involvement, an allegation the legislator has denied.
The driver of Bihar's Sasaram Municipal Council Executive Officer (EO) Vimal Kumar has been arrested after allegedly confessing to police that he murdered his boss following an argument over being denied a toilet break while driving. The arrest comes even as the victim's wife has accused an LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA of orchestrating the murder.
Police said driver Mithilesh Kumar confessed during interrogation to attacking Vimal Kumar with an iron rod after an argument erupted while they were travelling towards Patna on Sunday night.
According to the police, the driver wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused, triggering a confrontation that ended in the fatal assault.
DRIVER'S CONFESSION
Magadh Range IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation initially centred on Mithilesh after inconsistencies emerged in his account of the incident. The driver had first claimed that unidentified assailants intercepted the vehicle, assaulted the EO and fled.
Police, however, found that the driver had no injuries or scratch marks despite claiming to have been present during the alleged attack. His statements also changed during questioning. He first said two Apache motorcycles carrying the attackers had stopped the vehicle, before later claiming only one motorcycle was involved.
According to the IG, sustained interrogation led to the driver's alleged confession.
Police said Mithilesh told them that he had been under constant work pressure and stress because of long working hours and had frequent arguments with the EO over work-related issues. Other Municipal Council employees also confirmed that the two often had disagreements.
The driver told police that an argument had taken place earlier in the day as well. Later that night, another dispute broke out after he wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused. Police said the driver then stopped the vehicle and attacked Vimal Kumar with an iron rod kept inside the car, striking him first inside the vehicle and then multiple times after he got out.
The police claimed that the driver later tried to pass off the murder as an attack by unidentified criminals by positioning the vehicle to resemble a road accident before informing another staff member that the EO had been attacked.
Police said forensic teams have examined the crime scene, while divers are searching for the iron rod that the driver allegedly disposed of. IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation is continuing and the final conclusion will be drawn only after all evidence is verified.
WIFE LEVELS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MLA
Even as the police probe pointed towards the driver's alleged confession, the victim's wife, Babita, levelled serious allegations against Dehri LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Sonu Singh.
Speaking to the media, she alleged that the MLA regularly called her husband demanding Rs 50 lakh and later Rs 25 lakh. She claimed her husband would tell him that he did nothing wrong and therefore had no means to arrange such money. She further alleged that the MLA frequently called him for meetings and accused him of being behind the murder.
MLA DENIES CHARGES
Responding to the allegations, Sonu Singh categorically denied any involvement in the murder and said he would fully cooperate with the investigation.
The MLA said he had met Vimal Kumar on Sunday evening at a programme titled "Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam" in Dehri, where they briefly interacted, but denied having any dispute or personal tension with the officer. He also rejected the allegation that he had demanded money from the EO, saying he could never make such a demand.
Calling the accusations politically motivated, Sonu Singh alleged that some people were using local municipal politics and the family's allegations to defame him. He reiterated that the truth should emerge through a fair and impartial investigation into Vimal Kumar's murder.
The driver of Bihar's Sasaram Municipal Council Executive Officer (EO) Vimal Kumar has been arrested after allegedly confessing to police that he murdered his boss following an argument over being denied a toilet break while driving. The arrest comes even as the victim's wife has accused an LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA of orchestrating the murder.
Police said driver Mithilesh Kumar confessed during interrogation to attacking Vimal Kumar with an iron rod after an argument erupted while they were travelling towards Patna on Sunday night.
According to the police, the driver wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused, triggering a confrontation that ended in the fatal assault.
DRIVER'S CONFESSION
Magadh Range IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation initially centred on Mithilesh after inconsistencies emerged in his account of the incident. The driver had first claimed that unidentified assailants intercepted the vehicle, assaulted the EO and fled.
Police, however, found that the driver had no injuries or scratch marks despite claiming to have been present during the alleged attack. His statements also changed during questioning. He first said two Apache motorcycles carrying the attackers had stopped the vehicle, before later claiming only one motorcycle was involved.
According to the IG, sustained interrogation led to the driver's alleged confession.
Police said Mithilesh told them that he had been under constant work pressure and stress because of long working hours and had frequent arguments with the EO over work-related issues. Other Municipal Council employees also confirmed that the two often had disagreements.
The driver told police that an argument had taken place earlier in the day as well. Later that night, another dispute broke out after he wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused. Police said the driver then stopped the vehicle and attacked Vimal Kumar with an iron rod kept inside the car, striking him first inside the vehicle and then multiple times after he got out.
The police claimed that the driver later tried to pass off the murder as an attack by unidentified criminals by positioning the vehicle to resemble a road accident before informing another staff member that the EO had been attacked.
Police said forensic teams have examined the crime scene, while divers are searching for the iron rod that the driver allegedly disposed of. IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation is continuing and the final conclusion will be drawn only after all evidence is verified.
WIFE LEVELS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MLA
Even as the police probe pointed towards the driver's alleged confession, the victim's wife, Babita, levelled serious allegations against Dehri LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Sonu Singh.
Speaking to the media, she alleged that the MLA regularly called her husband demanding Rs 50 lakh and later Rs 25 lakh. She claimed her husband would tell him that he did nothing wrong and therefore had no means to arrange such money. She further alleged that the MLA frequently called him for meetings and accused him of being behind the murder.
MLA DENIES CHARGES
Responding to the allegations, Sonu Singh categorically denied any involvement in the murder and said he would fully cooperate with the investigation.
The MLA said he had met Vimal Kumar on Sunday evening at a programme titled "Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam" in Dehri, where they briefly interacted, but denied having any dispute or personal tension with the officer. He also rejected the allegation that he had demanded money from the EO, saying he could never make such a demand.
Calling the accusations politically motivated, Sonu Singh alleged that some people were using local municipal politics and the family's allegations to defame him. He reiterated that the truth should emerge through a fair and impartial investigation into Vimal Kumar's murder.
The driver of Bihar's Sasaram Municipal Council Executive Officer (EO) Vimal Kumar has been arrested after allegedly confessing to police that he murdered his boss following an argument over being denied a toilet break while driving. The arrest comes even as the victim's wife has accused an LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA of orchestrating the murder.
Police said driver Mithilesh Kumar confessed during interrogation to attacking Vimal Kumar with an iron rod after an argument erupted while they were travelling towards Patna on Sunday night.
According to the police, the driver wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused, triggering a confrontation that ended in the fatal assault.
DRIVER'S CONFESSION
Magadh Range IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation initially centred on Mithilesh after inconsistencies emerged in his account of the incident. The driver had first claimed that unidentified assailants intercepted the vehicle, assaulted the EO and fled.
Police, however, found that the driver had no injuries or scratch marks despite claiming to have been present during the alleged attack. His statements also changed during questioning. He first said two Apache motorcycles carrying the attackers had stopped the vehicle, before later claiming only one motorcycle was involved.
According to the IG, sustained interrogation led to the driver's alleged confession.
Police said Mithilesh told them that he had been under constant work pressure and stress because of long working hours and had frequent arguments with the EO over work-related issues. Other Municipal Council employees also confirmed that the two often had disagreements.
The driver told police that an argument had taken place earlier in the day as well. Later that night, another dispute broke out after he wanted to stop the vehicle to relieve himself, but the EO allegedly refused. Police said the driver then stopped the vehicle and attacked Vimal Kumar with an iron rod kept inside the car, striking him first inside the vehicle and then multiple times after he got out.
The police claimed that the driver later tried to pass off the murder as an attack by unidentified criminals by positioning the vehicle to resemble a road accident before informing another staff member that the EO had been attacked.
Police said forensic teams have examined the crime scene, while divers are searching for the iron rod that the driver allegedly disposed of. IG Vikas Vaibhav said the investigation is continuing and the final conclusion will be drawn only after all evidence is verified.
WIFE LEVELS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MLA
Even as the police probe pointed towards the driver's alleged confession, the victim's wife, Babita, levelled serious allegations against Dehri LJP (Ram Vilas) MLA Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Sonu Singh.
Speaking to the media, she alleged that the MLA regularly called her husband demanding Rs 50 lakh and later Rs 25 lakh. She claimed her husband would tell him that he did nothing wrong and therefore had no means to arrange such money. She further alleged that the MLA frequently called him for meetings and accused him of being behind the murder.
MLA DENIES CHARGES
Responding to the allegations, Sonu Singh categorically denied any involvement in the murder and said he would fully cooperate with the investigation.
The MLA said he had met Vimal Kumar on Sunday evening at a programme titled "Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam" in Dehri, where they briefly interacted, but denied having any dispute or personal tension with the officer. He also rejected the allegation that he had demanded money from the EO, saying he could never make such a demand.
Calling the accusations politically motivated, Sonu Singh alleged that some people were using local municipal politics and the family's allegations to defame him. He reiterated that the truth should emerge through a fair and impartial investigation into Vimal Kumar's murder.
