From Patna firing to Nepal death: The murky Khan Sir vs Roshan Sir rivalry

What began as a business rivalry between two coaching institutes in Patna has now spiralled into one of the most sensational education-sector controversies in Bihar, involving allegations of vandalism, gunfire, legal battles, street protests and, most recently, a mysterious death in Nepal.

The latest development came on Sunday (June 14) when Prince Yadav, one of the accused in the Khan Global Studies firing and vandalism case, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at a hotel in Biratnagar, Nepal. Yadav had been absconding since his name surfaced in the case and was also the brother of educator Roshan Anand, better known to students as "Roshan Sir".

Also read: Bihar coaching centre clash: Khan Sir named in FIR after firing allegations

According to reports, the 41-year-old died under unexplained circumstances at a hotel in Biratnagar. Nepalese authorities are investigating the incident and the exact cause of death has not yet been officially established.

His death has fuelled further attention on the bitter feud between Bihar's two most influential coaching brands — Khan Global Studies, led by popular educator Faisal Khan (Khan Sir), and Gyan Bindu GS Academy, led by Roshan Anand.

How the rivalry began

The roots of the conflict stretch back nearly a decade.

In 2017, Faisal Khan established his coaching presence at the Kisan Cold Storage campus in Musallahpur, Patna. A year later, Roshan Anand launched Gyan Bindu Academy from the same campus after unsuccessfully attempting to join the Bihar Police service.

Initially, the relationship was marked by routine competition. According to accounts from local educators, the first major dispute occurred when workers installing an exhaust fan at Gyan Bindu allegedly dropped a brick that damaged Khan Sir's vehicle, triggering a confrontation between staff members from both institutions.

Also read: Khan Sir moves Patna HC to quash FIR, seeks reopening of coaching institute

This minor dispute gradually evolved into a full-fledged business war.

Battle for Patna's coaching market

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many smaller coaching centres operating from the campus shut down. Khan Sir rapidly expanded his footprint by acquiring additional buildings, renting vacant classrooms and increasing student intake.

Gyan Bindu supporters alleged that the expansion was aimed at establishing monopoly over the campus and pushing competing institutes out of the market. While such claims remain contested, the rivalry became increasingly public.

By 2019, the conflict had already taken a violent turn when crude bombs were reportedly hurled at Khan Sir's coaching centre.

The situation escalated further in 2021 when Khan Sir filed complaints alleging that Prince Yadav and several others entered his institute, vandalised property and assaulted staff members. Supporters of Gyan Bindu, however, disputed the allegations.

In what was termed as retaliatory violence, Gyan Bindu Academy was attacked in 2023. The incident reportedly damaged infrastructure and left Prince Yadav with serious head injuries.

The topper controversy

While the rivalry had long been simmering, it exploded into the public spotlight earlier this year after Bihar Forest Range Officer examination results were announced.

The controversy centred around Abhishek Patel, who secured the top rank in the examination. Almost immediately, both coaching institutes claimed credit for his success.

Also read: Bihar police constable exam rush leads to stone pelting, chaos at Patliputra station

Khan Sir publicly stated that a majority of successful candidates in the examination had studied under his guidance and organised a large felicitation ceremony for Patel. In response, Roshan Sir released WhatsApp conversations that he claimed showed Patel had primarily studied at Gyan Bindu Academy. He also openly accused Khan Sir of ‘buying’ the topper for Rs 10 lakh.

The dispute quickly escalated into allegations that coaching institutes were paying successful candidates substantial sums to publicly associate themselves with particular brands.

Patel later denied any financial arrangement and stated that he had used educational resources from multiple coaching centres during his preparation.

Violence spills on to the streets

The conflict reached its most dangerous phase earlier this month.

According to police investigations, a late-night dispute allegedly involving promotional banners and territorial dominance near coaching premises escalated into vandalism, physical assaults and gunfire outside Khan GS Research Centre.

Roshan Sir was subsequently arrested in connection with the June 2 vandalism case and remains in judicial custody.

However, the troubles did not stop there.

Khan Sir was later named in an attempted murder FIR after security personnel allegedly admitted to firing weapons during the confrontation. He currently enjoys interim protection from arrest while legal proceedings continue.

Also read: Bihar politics and the battle over 10, Circular Road

Thousands of Gyan Bindu students have marched through Patna demanding Roshan Anand's release, alleging that the case was engineered to target their mentor. Supporters of Khan Sir, meanwhile, maintain that their institution was the victim of a planned attack.

Khan sir vs Roshan sir

The feud is also a clash between two very different coaching models.

Khan Sir has built one of India's largest educational brands through digital platforms. His YouTube channel and coaching institutes attract millions of students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking, Defence and state-level examinations.

Roshan Anand, on the other hand, commands a strong offline presence, particularly among aspirants preparing for Bihar Police and state government recruitment examinations.

Both have cultivated loyal student followings, turning what started as commercial competition into a battle for influence in coaching markets.

What started as a dispute between neighbouring coaching centres has evolved into a saga involving crime investigations, court battles, political attention, public mobilisation and a mysterious death in Nepal.