The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against 11 people in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, before the Barasat Court. According to CBI sources, two brothers, both BJP workers who were arrested in Uttar Pradesh several days ago, allegedly hired professional contract killers from the state to carry out the assassination.
Investigators have also found evidence suggesting that the brothers paid a substantial amount of money to the hired killers for executing the murder. Sources said the conspiracy to eliminate Rath had allegedly been in the works since December last year. However, the accused were forced to change their plans several times due to various circumstances.
The murder was finally carried out on May 6, two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. Rath was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range, around 50 metres from his residence.
The CBI has so far arrested six accused in connection with the case — Manu Singh, Raj Singh, Golu Singh, Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya and Naveen Kumar Singh. Investigators have also arrested three alleged middlemen who were reportedly involved in arranging the contract and facilitating the transfer of funds for the killing.
According to CBI sources, interrogation of the arrested accused has revealed several significant details about the alleged conspiracy. However, another suspect believed to be part of the network remains at large. The agency has launched a search operation to trace and arrest him. The timing of Rath’s killing, coming immediately after the declaration of the Assembly election results, has prompted investigators to examine the possibility of a larger political conspiracy.
The CBI is probing whether other influential individuals may have been involved in planning or directing the murder from behind the scenes. Investigators are examining the possible links between the alleged contract killing and the political developments surrounding the election.
Despite filing the preliminary charge sheet against 11 accused, the central agency has not yet established the precise motive behind Rath’s murder.
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