The Central Bureau of Investigation has officially taken over the murder investigation into the killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari. This development follows a recommendation from the West Bengal Police for a CBI probe into the case. The central agency has constituted a seven-member team led by Deputy Inspector General Pankaj Singh to spearhead the investigation.
Chandranath Rath, who served as Adhikari's personal assistant, was fatally shot in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district just days after the conclusion of the state assembly elections. According to reports, Rath was killed by motorcycle-borne assailants who trailed his vehicle, forced it to stop, and opened fire in full public view at approximately 10:30 p.m. before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses recounted that Rath's car was initially stopped at the Doharia junction near Doltala by a four-wheeler. Subsequently, a motorcycle rider approached the vehicle and began shooting indiscriminately. The brazen attack occurred in a public area, highlighting the audacity of the perpetrators.
Earlier on Monday, a Special Investigation Team operating in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar successfully apprehended three individuals in connection with the incident. One of the accused has been identified as the alleged sharpshooter. All three suspects were brought to Kolkata late on Sunday night and presented before a Barasat court, which remanded them to police custody until May 24.
A press release from the Criminal Investigation Department stated: "Three suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of Chandranath Rath on May 6 at Madhyamgram. Based on specific leads, two persons — Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya — were detained from Buxar in Bihar. A third accused, Raj Singh, was detained from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Following interrogation, all three were arrested this morning by Madhyamgram police station."
Sources have indicated that Raj Singh is believed to be the possible sharpshooter, though police emphasized that further investigation is required to confirm this identification. In the Barasat court, special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee informed the court that the accused had entered the city through Bally Nivedita Setu and paid the toll using UPI. The payment was made using the SIM card of one of the accused, although the SIM card was being used in another person's phone.
"However, we got a registered mobile number linked to the UPI payment and used the lead to nab the accused," Chatterjee said. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full conspiracy behind the murder.
