Controversy Grows as Police Officer Linked to Bharat Tiwari Case Gets Promotion

The appointment of Rajesh Kumar Sharma, the former Sub‑Divisional Police Officer of Jagdishpur, to a new position in Patna has ignited fresh controversy surrounding the Bharat Tiwari encounter case. Sharma, named in a murder FIR filed just seven days ago, is now serving as Police Sub‑Inspector in the Alcohol Prohibition and State Swamp Control Bureau.

The encounter, which occurred on June 17 in Bilauti village of Shahpur police station, Bhojpur district, has been challenged by Tiwari's family as a staged killing. They filed a FIR accusing several police officers, including Sharma, of murder. Following the FIR, Sharma was briefly removed from his SDOP post and placed under the Bihar Police headquarters.

The latest transfer list, encompassing 53 DSPs, reassigns Sharma to Patna, while Pankaj Kumar Mishra replaces him as SDOP of Jagdishpur. Sharma's ascent from inspector to DSP in the 2019 batch and subsequent posting have drawn criticism from rights groups who contend that a swift promotion of an officer under investigation compromises the fairness of the probe.

Family representatives argue that the reallocation threatens the impartiality of the case and calls for a thorough, unbiased investigation. The controversy adds to wider debates on police accountability and government oversight in Bihar.

Opposition parties and civil societies have demanded that the administration pause any further postings until the murder case is resolved, emphasizing the need for transparent justice for Bharat Tiwari.