Police suspect an accidental fall from the moving train as they investigate his disappearance, recover CCTV footage and await the post-mortem report

Devpalik Gupta, the 31-year-old digital communications manager and social media team lead of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, was found dead near railway tracks in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on Tuesday afternoon, 27 October 2026. He had gone missing a day earlier while travelling on the Ranchi-Patna Janshatabdi Express. Police suspect that he may have accidentally fallen from the moving train, based on their preliminary findings. However, the investigation is still underway, and the authorities are waiting for the post-mortem report to establish the exact cause of death.

Here is everything currently known about Devpalik Gupta, his final train journey, the discovery of his body, the police investigation, the party’s response and the questions that authorities have yet to answer.

Who Was Devpalik Gupta?

Devpalik Gupta was 31 years old and belonged to Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh. He studied at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in New Delhi and graduated with the 2018-19 batch. According to family sources, he initially pursued a BTech engineering degree but left the course because he wanted to build a career in journalism and media. He later joined IIMC to study journalism and eventually moved into digital communications.

Gupta had worked with the Jan Suraaj Party for the past four years. Political strategist Prashant Kishor founded and leads the party. Gupta served as its digital communications manager and social media team lead, where he handled digital strategy and online campaigns. His colleagues described him as a dedicated communications professional who played an important role in the party’s digital outreach, particularly during its political activities in Bihar.

His brother later identified his body.

The Last Journey: What Happened on the Ranchi-Patna Janshatabdi Express?

On Monday, 26 October 2026, Devpalik Gupta boarded the Ranchi-Patna Janshatabdi Express (Train No. 12366) at Ranchi railway station with two colleagues, Gautam Kumar and Himanshu Kumar Rajak. The train left the station at around 2:25–2:30 pm. According to reports, Gupta occupied seat number 50 near the window in coach C-2.

Around 10 minutes after the train left Ranchi, between approximately 2:35 pm and 3 pm, Gupta told his colleagues that he was going to the pantry car to get something to eat. The train was approaching Muri Junction, and Gupta never returned to his seat.

His colleagues immediately started looking for him. They checked the pantry car next to their coach and searched every coach on the train, but they could not find him. His mobile phone was switched off. When the train reached Muri Junction, its first major halt after Ranchi, they reported his disappearance to the Government Railway Police (GRP). The Railway Protection Force (RPF) also joined the search.

RPF officials later examined CCTV footage from Muri Junction. According to their initial assessment, the footage did not show Gupta getting off the train at the station. Police eventually registered a First Information Report (FIR) in Ranchi at around 9 pm on Monday. Some reports also pointed to a delay of several hours because the RPF and GRP disputed which agency had jurisdiction over the case.

How Did Police Discover the Body?

On Tuesday, 27 October 2026, police found Gupta’s body near railway tracks in an area covered with bushes and vegetation. Police placed the location near Jarwadih/Barwadag village, within the limits of Angara police station, close to railway pole number 379/18 on the Ranchi-Muri railway line.

Police observed a head injury on his body. They took custody of the body and sent it to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for a post-mortem examination. Local police and the GRP jointly completed the initial legal formalities.

Police Investigation and Preliminary Findings

Angara police station officer-in-charge Gautam Kumar Rajwar told reporters that the initial investigation suggested Gupta may have died after accidentally falling from the moving train. Rural Superintendent of Police Gaurav Goswami and Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan also indicated that the head injury and the location where police found the body appeared consistent with a fall from the train.

Police plan to register an unnatural death case based on statements from Gupta’s family members. However, they have clarified that the post-mortem report must establish the exact cause of death.

Investigators continue to examine the available evidence and have not ruled out any possibility. They are reviewing CCTV footage from the relevant section of the railway route and recording statements from the people who travelled with Gupta.

Jan Suraaj Party Reacts and Demands an Investigation

Jan Suraaj Party national spokesperson Kumar Saurabh Singh confirmed that authorities had recovered Gupta’s body and said police were investigating the case. He stated that investigators still needed to establish whether Gupta’s death resulted from an accident or involved a criminal act.

The party expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding his death and demanded an impartial investigation. It also appealed to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to appoint a senior officer to supervise the investigation.

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association also mourned Gupta’s death. In its statement, the association identified him as an alumnus from the 2018-19 batch, noted that his brother had identified the body and urged Jharkhand Police to conduct a transparent investigation. The association also called on the police to make the findings public.

What Questions Remain Unanswered?

As of the evening of 27 October 2026, investigators still need to establish several important details about Gupta’s final journey and death.

• The exact point where he left the train: Investigators have yet to establish where Gupta may have fallen from the train or whether he left it at any point during the journey.
• Why his phone was switched off: His colleagues could not contact him after he disappeared, and authorities have yet to clarify why his mobile phone was switched off.
• Whether cameras captured the incident: Investigators need to determine whether cameras inside the train or along the railway tracks recorded any relevant footage.
• What the post-mortem reveals: The medical examination must establish the full nature of his injuries and help determine the cause of death.
• Whether other factors contributed to his death: Police must examine the evidence to establish whether an accidental fall explains the circumstances or whether other factors played a role.

Police have not confirmed any evidence of foul play so far. However, they have not closed the investigation either. The post-mortem report and further forensic examination will help investigators establish what happened.

Latest Update on Devpalik Gupta’s Death Case

As of the late afternoon and evening of 27 October 2026, Gupta’s body remained at RIMS in Ranchi for a post-mortem examination. Police continued to investigate the case as an unnatural death. The Jan Suraaj Party was monitoring developments and had publicly demanded a thorough and impartial inquiry. Family members were expected to provide formal statements to help police complete the legal process and register the case.

Gupta’s sudden death has shocked his colleagues at the Jan Suraaj Party, members of the IIMC alumni community and people who knew him personally. He had built his career in journalism and digital political communications, and his death cut short his life during what appeared to be a routine train journey from Ranchi to Patna.

Authorities must examine the post-mortem findings and any further statements from investigating officers before they can confirm the full circumstances of his death. Until then, Jharkhand Police will continue to investigate the case.