After 3 arrests, CBI takes charge of probe into murder of Suvendu's aide

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, close aide Suvendu Adhikari, after registering an FIR and formally taking charge of the case from the West Bengal Police. The move follows a request from the state government, escalating the high-profile killing into a wider probe amid rising political tensions in post-poll West Bengal.

As per procedure, the CBI has re-registered the FIR originally filed by Madhyamgram police and will now independently investigate the case.

Officials said a CBI team is expected to visit West Bengal on Tuesday as part of the initial phase of the probe.

The agency’s inquiry will proceed afresh, with the findings eventually submitted before a competent court, either in the form of a chargesheet or closure report depending on evidence gathered.

Rath was shot dead on May 6 in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram, two days after the declaration of the fiercely contested Assembly election results with the BJP winning 208 of the 294 seats.

He sustained critical injuries after being fired upon on a public road and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Investigators believe the killing was a planned ambush carried out after extensive reconnaissance.

THREE ACCUSED ARRESTED

The state probe had made key breakthroughs before the transfer. Three accused — Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya and Raj Singh — were arrested in connection with the case after coordinated operations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya were detained from Buxar in Bihar, while Raj Singh was held from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday before being formally arrested the following morning.

The three were produced before the ACJM court in Barasat, where 13 days of CID custody was granted.

The next hearing has been scheduled for May 24. They have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, criminal conspiracy, illegal arms possession and suppression of evidence, along with provisions of the Arms Act.

DIGITAL TRANSACTION LED TO ARRESTS?

A digital trail through a UPI transaction proved crucial to the breakthrough. Investigators traced a payment made by one of the suspects at the Bally toll plaza near Kolkata, which helped track the movement of a car believed to have been used in the attack.

CCTV footage and technical surveillance indicated that the vehicle crossed the toll point shortly before the murder. Police said at least eight people were involved in the conspiracy and execution of the killing.

Describing the killing as a "pre-planned murder" and a "personal loss", Adhikari had said, "A lot of incidents have happened in nearby areas. Police are investigating the entire case. It’s a pre-planned murder. It's a personal loss for me."

He also appealed for calm, saying, "I appeal to all BJP workers to maintain peace. It's a painful murder. Police have assured us of proper actions in the case."

The murder has become a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, with opposition leaders alleging political motives and the ruling camp rejecting the charges.

With the CBI now stepping in, the focus will shift to whether the central agency can uncover the wider conspiracy, identify all eight suspected participants and determine the motive behind the targeted killing that has intensified post-election unrest in the state.

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