New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, following major developments in the case and the arrest of three suspected sharpshooters.
The transition of the probe from West Bengal Police to the CBI comes after the state police itself recommended a central investigation. The agency is expected to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case under the supervision of senior officials from the Kolkata Zone.
According to officials, the SIT will include officers from the Kolkata unit and will focus on examining the larger conspiracy, tracking the movement of the accused and verifying the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The development follows the arrest of three alleged shooters by the West Bengal Police SIT during operations carried out in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Investigators reportedly relied on technical surveillance, digital tracking and intelligence inputs to trace the accused outside West Bengal.
The three accused were later brought to West Bengal on transit remand and produced before a court in North 24 Parganas district, which sent them to 13 days of police custody.
Chandranath Rath was shot dead on the night of May 6, only two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. The BJP had secured a decisive victory in the polls, winning 207 seats in the 294 member Assembly.
Investigators said Rath was returning home to Madhyamgram after attending a party programme when his vehicle was intercepted at a crossing by a four wheeler. Preliminary findings suggest that two motorcycles had been following the vehicle before one of the assailants moved alongside and opened fire from close range.
Police believe nearly 10 rounds were fired during the attack. Rath died on the spot, while his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries and is currently recovering.
The CBI is now expected to re examine evidence collected so far and investigate whether the murder was part of a wider conspiracy.
