Early Life & Background
Kanhaiya Bhelari is a senior journalist based in Bihar, India, recognised for his coverage of politics, governance and social issues in the state. Though precise details of his birth-date and early schooling are not widely published, his career trajectory and public presence show that he has been active in the media landscape for decades, especially in Patna and the broader Bihar region. According to his LinkedIn profile, he lists Patna as his location. (goskribe.com)
He appears to have worked in Hindi as well as English media, writing for national and regional platforms. On his Instagram, he mentions having worked with The Week magazine for 23 years. (Instagram)
Career Trajectory
Early career
Kanhaiya Bhelari started his career in journalistic work in Bihar, focusing on reporting local governance, political dynamics and social issues. While his early postings are not detailed publicly, he built up a reputation for “human-touch” stories and persistent reportage from the state capital and districts of Bihar. (Muck Rack)
Work with major media outlets
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He has been associated with publications like Tehelka Hindi and Firstpost. For example, he is credited with by‐lines including “Politics over Bihar’s Marhowra diesel engine plant deepens…” published in Firstpost. (Muck Rack)
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On his LinkedIn profile he cites being a “Contributing Editor” at Governance Now since August 2013. (LinkedIn)
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According to his social media, he rose through The Week magazine (23 years) and has been working now in newer platforms, including what appears to be a digital platform called Newshaat based in Patna. (Instagram)
Regional focus and reporting themes
Bhelari’s reportage has frequently covered the state of Bihar: politics, administration, education, welfare policies, government schemes, the merit scam in education, issues of governance and corruption. For instance, in June 2016 he wrote in Tehelka on Bihar’s “merit scam”. (Muck Rack)
His work frequently combines investigative angles with commentary, leaning into the dynamics of Bihar’s politics—coalitions, chief ministers, governance issues—in a style accessible to both regional and national readers. He often writes in Hindi and appears in Hindi‐media platforms.
Digital leadership
More recently, Bhelari seems to have shifted focus to digital journalism and editing roles. His Facebook page lists him as Editor-in-Chief of the digital platform Swaraj Post (based in Patna). (Facebook)
Major Stories & Contributions
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One of his articles for Tehelka detailed how government programmes in Bihar may have unintended consequences: e.g., a “human chain” campaign under liquor ban where two children died and more than 80 students fainted. (Muck Rack)
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He has written on high-profile political issues: for example, the diesel locomotive factory in Marhowra, Bihar, exploring the stalling of a major infrastructure project. (Muck Rack)
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His digital presence includes commentary on current Bihar politics via X / Twitter, where he comments on political developments, alliance dynamics, caste equations in Bihar and media narratives. (X (formerly Twitter))
Style and Reputation
Bhelari is known for somewhat direct writing and a strong regional grounding. His profile on Muck Rack describes him as “a workaholic with innovative ideas known for their human touch.” (Muck Rack)
He writes both news reports and analysis – balancing event-driven coverage with interpretive angles. By focusing on the Hindi belt and Bihar specifically, he has carved a niche among the local media ecosystem.
Controversies
No public record shows major legal cases or professional bans against him, but there are a few controversies associated with his name in media reporting:
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Kidnapping confession report: A website (OpIndia) published that in August 2022, Bhelari “confessed” on live TV to kidnapping two men who owed him money. According to the article, during a debate he is quoted having said “I confess I kidnapped …” though no case was reportedly filed. (OpIndia)
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This claim is serious in nature but comes via a single website and appears to reference a broadcast debate. I could not locate independent verification of legal proceedings against him.
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Such a statement raises questions about journalistic ethics and personal behaviour; if accurate it could dent professional credibility.
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It would be wise to treat the claim with caution unless corroborated by reliable sources or official records.
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Recent comment-row with a political family: In November 2025, a video surfaced where Rohini Acharya (daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav) confronted Bhelari for allegedly making sexist comments about her kidney donation to her father. She challenged his remarks that a married woman “should stay at her husband’s home” rather than spending prolonged time with her parents. (India Today)
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This puts Bhelari into a media-morality spotlight, given the sensitive nature of comments on gender roles and familial duties.
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While not a legal case, it can affect how his journalistic neutrality and sensitivity are perceived.
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Media bias / regional politics: Given Bhelari’s heavy focus on Bihar politics and his commentary style, some critics may view him as pro-certain political players in Bihar or as aligned with particular narratives. However, I did not locate detailed third-party critiques citing explicit conflict of interest or proven bias.
Influence & Impact
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In local media ecology, Bhelari is one of the voices covering Bihar’s governance and politics with depth. By working across print, digital and Hindi platforms, he helps bring regional stories to broader audiences.
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His combination of investigative/analytical style and regional specialization gives him an edge in covering local issues that national media may overlook.
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His recent controversies also reflect how local journalists now operate in an environment where commentary, social media and broadcast debates converge — making the line between reporting and commentary increasingly blurred.
Current role & Positioning
As of 2025, Kanhaiya Bhelari appears to be functioning as a senior editor/lead journalist in Patna, with digital as a key focus. His social media profile suggests that he is managing editorial responsibilities with the platform Newshaat (Patna) and has decades of experience behind him. (Instagram)
His writing still appears active — both reporting and commentary – and he remains visible in the realm of Bihar politics and media.
Summary
Kanhaiya Bhelari is a seasoned journalist from Bihar whose career spans decades and includes work in print and digital media. He has built a strong regional reputation covering governance, politics and social issues in his home state. His style is rooted in regional context and often seeks to connect the “ground” story (education, welfare, politics) with wider narratives. At the same time, controversies—particularly one involving his statements on gender roles and another prompted by a reported admission of kidnapping—raise questions around journalistic ethics and personal conduct. Nonetheless, his influence in the Bihar media space is significant, especially for readers seeking Hindi/English reporting anchored in the state.
🔍 Top Interesting Facts
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Despite being rooted in Bihar journalism, Bhelari has worked for nationallevel platforms such as Tehelka Hindi and Firstpost, bridging local and national media spheres. (forwardpress.in)
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His social media handle shows he has been a part of one magazine (The Week) for 23 years—an unusually long stint for a magazine journalist in India. (Instagram)
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He writes both Hindi and English, which is somewhat uncommon among regional journalists specialising in Hindi states like Bihar.
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The recent confrontation with Rohini Acharya brought national attention to the role of journalists in regional political feuds — showing how journalism increasingly intersects with politics and personal dynamics.
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He maintains a presence on multiple social platforms (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram) which indicates his adaptation to digital era journalism.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Where is Kanhaiya Bhelari based and what is his area of focus?
A: He is based in Patna (Bihar) and primarily focuses on Bihar politics, governance, education, welfare, regional stories, and political analysis in the Hindi belt.
Q2: Which publications has he worked for?
A: He has worked with The Week magazine (for approx. 23 years per his IG bio), contributed to Tehelka Hindi, Firstpost, Governance Now, and currently appears to be associated with digital platforms like Swaraj Post and Newshaat.
Q3: Has he held any editorial leadership positions?
A: Yes. His Facebook page lists him as Editor-in-Chief of Swaraj Post (Patna) and his LinkedIn lists him as Contributing Editor at Governance Now since 2013.
Q4: Has he been involved in any controversies?
A: Yes. Two prominent controversies: (1) a report that he “confessed” to kidnapping two men over money in 2022. (OpIndia) (2) A published video in 2025 where Rohini Acharya accused him of making sexist remarks about her kidney donation to her father. (India Today)
Q5: What is his journalistic style known for?
A: He is known for stories with a “human touch”, bridging political/governance topics with societal implications. His profile (Muck Rack) describes him as “workaholic…innovative ideas… human touch”. (Muck Rack)
Q6: Does he specialise only in Hindi journalism?
A: While he writes in Hindi frequently (and is recognised in Hindi media), he also writes in English and has by-lines in English publications (e.g., Firstpost). So he functions in bilingual media environments.
Q7: Is there any publicly known legal action against him?
A: As of available public records, no formal legal action or conviction against him was found. The kidnapping “confession” is a claimed statement in media, but no formal case documented in accessible sources. It would be prudent to verify independently for any legal status.
Q8: How can one follow his work?
A: You can follow his social media handles such as his X/Twitter account (@bhelari1) where he posts commentary. (X (formerly Twitter)) You may also find his articles in Tehelka Hindi, Forward Press, Firstpost and platforms linked to Bihar media.

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