Patna court grants anticipatory bail to Khan Sir in coaching institute firing incident

Educator Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, was granted anticipatory bail on Monday by a Patna court in a criminal case arising out of a firing incident at his coaching institute earlier this year.

The court also granted anticipatory bail to three staff members of Khan Global Studies (KGS) - Kanhaiya Kumar Singh, Ajit Kumar and Ankit Kumar Pandey. The two security guards accused of opening fire during the incident had earlier been granted regular bail.

The case stems from violence that broke out at Khan Global Studies in Patna’s Musallahpur Haat area in early June, allegedly following a confrontation between persons associated with rival coaching institutes. According to reports, a group of 15 to 20 persons allegedly vandalised the KGS premises by pelting stones and damaging property.

Khan Sir has maintained that the attack was orchestrated by a rival coaching institute as part of an ongoing rivalry in Patna’s competitive examination coaching sector.

Following a complaint lodged by the coaching institute’s manager, police reportedly registered a case and arrested the director of the rival coaching institute along with two others in connection with the alleged vandalism.

The matter later took a different turn after videos surfaced purportedly showing two KGS security guards firing licensed rifles outside the institute after the violence. Police subsequently registered a separate FIR alleging offences including attempt to murder and provisions of the Arms Act.

During interrogation the two security guards alleged that Khan Sir and other officials of the coaching institute had instructed them to open fire. Based on these allegations, Khan Sir, the guards and others were named in the FIR.

Khan Sir has denied the allegation, maintaining that he never instructed anyone to fire and that the guards acted in self-defence after the coaching institute came under attack. His legal team has also described the allegations as an attempt to malign him.

The anticipatory bail plea was argued before the Principal District and Sessions Court in Patna.

The judge delivered his order today granting anticipatory bail to Khan Sir and three others.

The investigation into both the alleged vandalism and the subsequent firing is stated to be continuing.