Bihar

PATNA: Speculation over Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi taking on a major leadership role within the party in 2026 has created waves across Bihar’s political landscape. While party insiders hint at an expanded and strategic responsibility for Priyanka, opposition leaders are portraying this as a sign of Rahul Gandhi’s alleged leadership failure. Priyanka Gandhi Could Take on a Key RoleCurrently serving as General Secretary without a specific portfolio, Priyanka Gandhi had her responsibility for Uttar Pradesh withdrawn after the party’s defeat in the 2022 assembly elections. According to sources, she is now being considered for a new, influential position—possibly as the head of the Campaign Committee or the Election Management Committee—rather than being restricted to a singl...

In a major step towards digital governance and transparency, the Bihar government has announced that certified copies of land-related documents will be issued exclusively through an online system. The new rule will come into effect from January 1, 2026, bringing an end to handwritten slips, paper applications, and in-person submissions. The decision has been taken by the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, and its implementation guidelines have been circulated to all concerned officials, department secretary Jai Singh confirmed on Wednesday. Digitally Signed Copies to Be Legally Valid Under the new system, only digitally signed copies issued online will be considered legally valid. Until now, landholders had to submit physical applications, pay stamp duty, and wait 7 to 14 days—o...

: In a major step towards modernising police infrastructure and strengthening the safe handling of arms and ammunition, the Bihar Police Headquarters has launched an extensive overhaul plan for 50 police lines across the state, including 32 old and 18 newly constructed units. The initiative aims to upgrade facilities ranging from armories to canteens, in line with contemporary security and welfare standards. Director General of Police Vinay Kumar has issued detailed instructions to all Inspector Generals (IGs), Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs), directing them to carry out a comprehensive assessment of police lines based on 14 mandatory standards. District-wise evaluation reports must be submitted by the end of the month. Statewide Assessment and A...

While the word “katta” (country-made gun) once dominated political discourse in Bihar—echoing even in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election speeches—the real heat in the state today is over “kattha” (land measurement). With land prices soaring across urban and semi-urban Bihar, disputes and speculation over property have intensified, turning land into the state’s most combustible asset. As demand for housing rises and available land shrinks, builders and real estate intermediaries have aggressively entered the market, particularly in and around Patna. A common model involves purchasing four katthas of land and constructing multi-storey apartment complexes with 15–20 flats, generating massive profits—often at the cost of state revenue. The Registration Game: Huge Gap Between Officia...

A troubling surge in wrong FASTag deductions has sparked widespread concern across Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand, with vehicle owners reporting toll charges from locations hundreds of kilometres away—despite their cars being parked at home or undergoing repairs. The incidents have raised serious questions about the credibility, transparency, and monitoring of India’s FASTag toll collection system, which is operated under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Parked in Patna, Charged in Jamshedpur Patna resident Siddharth Kaushal was left stunned when he received a message on Tuesday evening stating that ₹65 had been deducted at the Putru Toll Plaza near Jamshedpur, even though his vehicle was parked outside his home in Patna. “I was shocked. My car never travelled...

Muzaffarpur, Bihar: The Vande Bharat Express once again became the target of a stone-pelting incident in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. Three train coaches suffered damage when stones were hurled at the moving train near the Kanti area. Local police and railway authorities acted promptly to investigate the matter. Incident DetailsThe Vande Bharat Express train number 26502, coming from Narkatiaganj, was attacked during its journey. The railway control room received information about the stone-pelting, prompting an immediate response from the Railway Police and local police teams. On reaching the site, authorities questioned three suspected minor boys present near the tracks. The minors admitted their involvement, stating that they were playing and had accidentally hit the train while att...

In a shocking incident from East Champaran, Bihar, a young man sold dog meat to villagers, claiming it was rabbit meat. Several villagers fell ill after consuming the meat, prompting an investigation by local authorities. The incident occurred in the Gadhia Bazar area, where Mangru Sahni, a resident of Gadhia village, reportedly killed a dog to sell its meat. Villagers were led to believe that the meat came from freshly caught wild rabbits, locally known as "Kharha." Mangru allegedly sold the meat at ₹1,000 per kilogram, using the earnings to fund a drinking spree. According to local reports, Sahni had recently been released from jail. Desperate for money to buy alcohol, he hatched the scheme to deceive villagers into purchasing dog meat. The following morning, under the influence, M...

Kaimur, Bihar: In a shocking bust, Kaimur police have apprehended a notorious loan shark, known locally as “Byaj Babu,” whose predatory lending practices had trapped dozens of borrowers in a cycle of debt and property loss. The accused, Laxman Sah, had built an opulent empire by offering loans at exorbitant interest rates—up to four times the principal amount. Victims, desperate for funds for marriages or other emergencies, often ended up signing blank cheques, which Sah used to seize their property. What Police Recovered: 245 blank cheques from borrowers 39 property documents and registries mortgaged to Sah ₹1,70,000 cash 1.754 kg silver 65 stamp papers intended to illegally claim borrowers’ property A detailed diary tracking borrowers, loans, and other transactio...

Patna, Bihar: The Patna High Court has delivered a landmark judgment in a case involving the irregular auction of a vehicle seized under Bihar’s liquor prohibition laws. The bench, comprising Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and Justice Sourendra Pandey, criticized officials for flouting mandatory procedures and directed restitution to the affected vehicle owner. The case pertains to a 2020-seized Scorpio (S-9 model) in Muzaffarpur district. The court noted that a vehicle valued at ₹12.12 lakh was auctioned for merely ₹3.85 lakh. Shockingly, the owner was neither served a prior notice nor given an opportunity to present their side before the auction. Authorities reportedly seized and bulk-auctioned 490 vehicles in a single order. Transparency and Collusion Concerns The High Court rais...