LUCKNOW: Once projecting himself on social media as a social worker and a self-styled Kshatriya leader, Raj Singh, a resident of Ballia, now finds himself at the center of one of India's most sensational political murder investigations. The case involves the chilling ambush-style killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The Murder Investigation
Police probing the meticulously planned attack suspect Raj Singh to be one of the sharpshooters behind the shooting. The incident unfolded with near-military precision on a busy road in Madhyamgram, where gunmen allegedly opened fire at a Scorpio SUV carrying Chandranath Rath. The attackers disappeared from the scene within seconds.
As Bengal Police teams tracked digital footprints, interstate links, and alleged getaway routes stretching from Kolkata to Uttar Pradesh, Raj Singh was arrested along with two others. His social media profile came under intense scrutiny, revealing his political connections, past run-ins with police, fiery speeches, posts, and claims of ideological mobilization.
Family Denies Involvement
Raj Singh's mother, Jamwanti Singh, rejects the police theory. She insists that her son was hundreds of kilometers away, attending weddings and religious visits in Uttar Pradesh when the bullets were fired in Bengal. Speaking to journalists at Ballia district court on Monday, she claimed the family had traveled to Lucknow on April 7 to attend the wedding of an MLC's daughter before visiting Kichhauchha Sharif in Ambedkar Nagar and later Ayodhya for darshan at the Ram Lalla temple.
She alleged that while returning from Ayodhya, their vehicle was intercepted near a roadside dhaba, and all occupants, including women and children, were detained overnight. The next morning, she was briefly allowed to meet Raj before Bengal Police took him away on a flight, she claimed.
Who is Raj Singh?
Raj Singh, who describes himself as a social worker on social media, is a resident of Anand Nagar near the police lines in Ballia city. On his Facebook profile, he identifies himself as the state general secretary of the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha. He has also shared posts linked to Mission 2026 and photographs with a state minister on Instagram.
Police sources said Raj Singh had earlier contested the councillor election from Ward No. 15 in Ballia and allegedly enjoyed political patronage. His name had also surfaced in a previous firing incident involving an egg vendor in Ballia's Sadar Kotwali area.
Legal Challenges
Raj Singh's lawyer, Harivant Singh, alleged illegal detention and claimed proper transit remand procedures were initially not followed. Addressing reporters at Ballia district court, the lawyer said CCTV footage showed Raj Singh at his home on April 4, 5, and 6, and maintained that his client had no connection with the Kolkata murder case.
The case continues to unfold as Bengal Police investigates the interstate links and the role of the alleged sharpshooters. The murder of Chandranath Rath has sent shockwaves through political circles in West Bengal and beyond.
