Federal agency searches two Patna flats in Ranchi blast investigation
An investigating team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at two flats in Patna as part of its probe into the petrol-bomb attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) regional office in Ranchi in June, city police officials said.
The flats are located in the Chitragupt Nagar police station area of Patna Sadar, and were identified as belonging to Sandeep Gupta, according to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) 1 of Patna Sadar. The NIA team arrived around noon and remained at the premises conducting searches and examining documents and material found there, the SDPO said.
"The NIA team came here at noon and is carrying out search operations at two flats of Sandeep Gupta in connection with the bomb blast at the RSS office in Ranchi,"
The SDPO said the flats were locked when the team arrived and that doors were broken open to facilitate entry and the searches. Officials did not disclose the specific nature of the items being sought or the outcomes of the searches.
- Location: Chitragupt Nagar police station area, Patna Sadar.
- Premises searched: Two flats registered to Sandeep Gupta.
- Operation time: NIA team arrived around noon on Wednesday.
The searches in Patna are linked to the petrol-bomb attack on the RSS regional office at Nivaranpur in Ranchi's Chutia police station area on 17 June. In that incident, assailants hurled a petrol bomb at the regional office, prompting a criminal investigation that has since involved central agencies, officials said. The NIA has not publicly released details of its case file or the specific material it is seeking during the current searches.
Local policing and central probe
Patna police officials were present at the site to assist and to maintain the scene. The SDPO described the role of local police as facilitating the agency's lawful search operations. The NIA led the exercise and retained control over the investigative direction, officials added.
No arrests were reported from the Patna searches at the time the information was provided to the media. The NIA and city police have so far refrained from disclosing further particulars about suspects, evidence seized or the wider status of the case.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Target of probe | Petrol-bomb attack on RSS regional office, Ranchi (17 June) |
| Search location | Two flats, Chitragupt Nagar, Patna Sadar |
| Agency conducting search | National Investigation Agency (NIA) |
Residents in the Chitragupt Nagar neighbourhood said they had seen officials at the buildings but declined to give further comment. There was no visible crowd at the time of reporting and local traffic on the adjoining roads remained normal.
The involvement of the NIA signifies the probe’s escalation to the central counter-terror agency, which typically assumes jurisdiction when cases are deemed to affect national security, cross-state elements are suspected, or specific central statutes are invoked. The agency has been selective about what it discloses publicly in the early stages of such sensitive investigations.
Patna, being a major urban centre and transport node for the region, has previously seen central agencies execute searches and seizures in connection with incidents elsewhere in the state and neighbouring regions. Citizens and local stakeholders here said they expect officials to complete the investigation promptly and share findings with competent authorities while following due process.
Officials indicated that further details, including whether any material was seized or whether the searches led to additional action, would be made available as per procedural timelines and after due verification. The NIA has not released an official statement to date outlining the scope or the outcome of the Patna searches.
