Police have made a disclosure in the murder case of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bhushan Tanti, also known as Pappu Tanti, in Bhagalpur. According to police, a contract worth ₹3 lakh had allegedly been fixed for his murder. Police have arrested the alleged main shooter, Akshay Yadav, and alleged line-man Suman Kumar in connection with the case.Bhagalpur Pappu Tanti Murder Case Police Arrest Alleged Shooter and Line Man Over ₹3 Lakh Contract
According to police, Pappu Tanti was killed at around 10 am on September 11, 2026, near Kumhar Toli in Kutubganj under Babarganj police station limits. He was travelling by motorcycle when motorcycle-borne attackers stopped him and opened fire.
After sustaining gunshot injuries, Tanti was taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital, Mayaganj, for treatment, where doctors declared him dead. Following the daylight killing, tension and anger were reported in the area. Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and began examining nearby CCTV footage and technical surveillance to identify those involved.
Police said the alleged main shooter, Akshay Yadav, was arrested from the Sitakund area of Munger, while alleged line-man Suman Kumar was arrested from Kutubganj.
According to police, a mobile phone was recovered from Suman Kumar. Police claim that the phone was allegedly being used to provide the shooters with information about Pappu Tanti's movements and location at the time of the incident. Police also said that weapons were recovered from the shooter.
During questioning, police allegedly found that a ₹3 lakh contract had been fixed for Pappu Tanti's murder. Police said the conspiracy had allegedly been underway for a long time and that attempts had previously been made to eliminate Tanti.
According to the investigation, the conspiracy had allegedly been continuing for two years and attempts had reportedly been made around three times. The detailed circumstances of those attempts and the identities of those involved remain part of the investigation and further action.
Police have identified former councillor and BJP leader Shashi Modi as the alleged main conspirator in the case. Modi had already surrendered before the court, while his wife, Deepika Kumari, had also been arrested by police and sent to jail.
Shashi Modi surrendered before the Bhagalpur court on September 15. Police said he surrendered after pressure from the investigation increased. The search for his nephew Krishna Modi, who is reported to be absconding, is continuing.
According to police, an old political rivalry and a dispute over local dominance are among the factors being examined in the case. Both Pappu Tanti and Shashi Modi had been associated with the BJP.
Shashi Modi had previously served as a BJP mandal president. After securing a government job, he had to leave the post, following which Pappu Tanti was given responsibility as mandal president. Police are also examining this political background in connection with the murder.
A dispute concerning the construction of the Kali temple in Kutubganj and control of its construction committee has also emerged in the investigation.
According to police, there had been a prolonged dispute between the two sides over influence in the construction and management of the temple. Pappu Tanti was associated with the temple construction committee, and his political and social activities in the area were increasing.
Investigating agencies are examining how the dispute related to the temple committee and political differences allegedly developed into a murder conspiracy.
In the initial days of the investigation, police examined several possible angles. On the basis of the family's statement, an FIR was registered against former councillor Shashi Modi, his nephew Krishna Modi and others.
Police conducted raids at possible locations in Khagaria, Munger and Begusarai. Technical surveillance and CCTV footage were used to trace the movements of the attackers.
After the murder, police collected evidence from the crime scene. A forensic team also collected necessary samples and other evidence. Investigators examined CCTV footage from roads and cameras installed around the crime scene to determine the route taken by the attackers before and after the shooting.
After Pappu Tanti's death, his family had also alleged that an old rivalry was behind the murder. The family named Shashi Modi, Krishna Modi and others in the FIR and expressed suspicion against them.
At that time, police had said there was no conclusive evidence regarding an immediate conspiracy by someone close to the victim and that all aspects were being investigated. As the investigation progressed, action was taken regarding the roles of the named accused and alleged shooters.
Police are also investigating who played a role between the alleged payment for the murder and its execution. The investigation is examining how the alleged ₹3 lakh payment was made, to whom the money was given and how frequently the accused communicated while planning the murder.
Mobile call records, location data and digital evidence could play a role in establishing these links.
Police have described the alleged line-man's role as important to the investigation. In this case, police have said that Suman Kumar had a mobile phone through which information was allegedly provided to the shooters about Pappu Tanti's movements and location at the time of the incident. Police are investigating who allegedly instructed Suman and whom he was in contact with.
Police said a pistol and other weapons were recovered from the shooter. Forensic examination of the weapons could help determine whether they were used in the crime.
Police had already collected evidence from the crime scene, and matching the recovered weapons with forensic evidence from the site may form part of the investigation.
After Pappu Tanti's murder, leaders from the BJP and several other political parties condemned the incident. Tanti had reportedly been associated with party activities for a long time.
He was the president of the Shrinrayan Sah Mandal and had previously been active in BJP organisational activities. His earlier political association and activities in the area have also emerged during the investigation.
Police are investigating beyond the alleged shooters to establish the entire chain of the alleged conspiracy. Investigators are examining when the murder plan was made, how many people were involved, who allegedly established contact with the shooters, who determined the alleged line-man's role and how the alleged ₹3 lakh payment was transferred.
Police said the complete picture of the alleged network will become clearer as answers to these questions emerge.
The police investigation is continuing, and further legal proceedings against the accused will take place in court. The roles of the accused will ultimately be determined through the judicial process.
At present, based on the claims made by police, Shashi Modi has been identified as the alleged main conspirator, Akshay Yadav as the alleged main shooter and Suman Kumar as the alleged line-man. Police are continuing raids to arrest the absconding accused and potential associates.
The police disclosure has identified the alleged ₹3 lakh contract, the alleged long-running conspiracy, previous attempts and the September 11 shooting as key lines of investigation. Police said the investigation is continuing and raids are underway to arrest the absconding accused. Information from the post-mortem, forensic examination, CCTV footage, mobile data and questioning of the accused will be considered in further legal action.
