New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a key accused in the murder case of Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The arrest was carried out in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, in what officials described as a major development in the high-profile investigation.
The accused, identified as Raj Kumar Singh alias Raj Singh, was apprehended by a CBI team with support from local police authorities. Investigators believe he played a central role in the killing of Rath, who was shot dead near his residence in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6, shortly after the West Bengal Assembly election results.
According to officials, the murder appeared to be a carefully planned operation involving multiple individuals. Preliminary findings suggested that Rath’s movements had been monitored before the attack and that several suspects fled West Bengal immediately after the killing, taking shelter in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The investigation was transferred from the West Bengal Police to the CBI following a request from the state government. The central agency subsequently formed a seven member Special Investigation Team led by senior officers to probe the case.
Before the CBI takeover, Bengal Police had already arrested three suspects linked to the murder. Investigators had indicated the possible involvement of professional shooters and suspected that the operation may have been coordinated from outside the state.
Authorities are also examining whether the murder was carried out as part of a contract killing arrangement, although the exact motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
The killing of Chandranath Rath, considered one of Suvendu Adhikari’s most trusted associates, sparked sharp political reactions across West Bengal and intensified debates surrounding law and order in the state.
Officials said further interrogations and follow up operations are likely as the investigation continues to trace other individuals allegedly connected to the conspiracy.
