The investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), marking a significant escalation in the high-profile case. The move comes just a day after the state police arrested three alleged contract killers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
With the case now transferred, the CBI has constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) at its Delhi headquarters under DIG Pankaj Kumar Singh. The team will include two officers of Superintendent of Police rank. Sources indicate that the directive for forming the SIT was issued late Monday night.
CBI officials confirmed that the investigation is in its preliminary stages. A fresh FIR will be registered by the agency based on the original complaint filed by the State Police, and further inquiry will proceed in close coordination with state authorities.
According to police, Rath was shot dead on the night of May 6 while returning home to Doharia in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas. CCTV footage shows that a silver Nissan car intercepted his vehicle, following which armed assailants stepped out and opened fire at close range. The sudden gunfire caused panic in the area, with locals scrambling for safety. Rath succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while the attackers fled on motorcycles.
Investigators revealed that Rath’s car had been trailed by two motorcycles prior to the attack. One of these bikes was later recovered from a garbage dump near the Airport 2.5 Gate area and has since been taken to Madhyamgram Police Station for forensic examination.
A breakthrough came late Sunday night when a joint team of the CID and STF conducted coordinated operations across state borders. Three suspected sharpshooters — Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya from Buxar, Bihar, and Raj Singh from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh —were arrested. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused are professional contract killers.
Despite the arrests, the identity of the mastermind behind the killing remains unknown. Investigators are probing whether the killing was the result of a political conspiracy or driven by personal enmity. Officials stated that sustained interrogation of the accused is underway to uncover who orchestrated the attack and why Rath was targeted.
The probe took a crucial turn when CCTV analysis revealed that the suspects made a digital payment via UPI at the Bally toll plaza. This digital trail enabled investigators to trace links to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, ultimately leading to the arrests. Authorities believe this evidence could play a key role in identifying the larger network behind the killing.
As the probe deepens, attention remains focused on uncovering the motive and identifying the alleged mastermind behind the killing, a case that has already sparked political and public scrutiny across the state.
Also read: No deputy CM in Bengal; Adhikari allocates portfolios
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