West Bengal CID Arrests Three Suspects in Killing of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath
In a breakthrough in the sensational murder case of Chandranath Rath, the West Bengal Police on Monday arrested three suspected assailants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, alleging that they were hired from outside the state to carry out the targeted killing.
The arrests came nearly a week after Rath, considered a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district on the night of May 6.
According to investigators, a specialised team acting on intelligence inputs detained two suspects — Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya — from Buxar district in Bihar.
Around the same time, a third accused, Raj Singh, was apprehended from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
After being questioned extensively by officials of the Criminal Investigation Department, all three men were formally arrested by Madhyamgram police.
Investigators suspect that the accused acted as professional contract killers hired specifically for the murder.
The probe is now increasingly focused on identifying the individuals who allegedly planned the attack from behind the scenes and arranged the interstate operation.
Police officials said the case saw a breakthrough because of what they described as a series of mistakes committed by the suspects while escaping after the murder.
One of the most crucial leads emerged from the Bally toll plaza. According to investigators, the suspects’ vehicle crossed the toll point shortly after the attack.
In what police called a “critical error,” the occupants paid the toll fee through a UPI transaction instead of cash, leaving behind a digital trail.
“The UPI payment helped us trace a mobile number directly linked to one of the suspects,” a senior officer involved in the investigation said.
Investigators then examined high-definition CCTV footage from the toll plaza, which reportedly captured clear visuals of both the vehicle and its occupants.
The footage played a key role in identifying the accused and tracking their movements after the crime.
The investigation has also uncovered details suggesting that the murder was carefully planned.
Police said the silver hatchback allegedly used to intercept and block Rath’s SUV was operating with a cloned identity.
Investigators found that the vehicle was fitted with a fake number plate copied from a legitimate car registered in Siliguri.
According to police, the accused appears to have used photographs from an online vehicle sales portal to duplicate the registration details and create a fake identity for the car.
“The vehicle used a forged number plate linked to an actual car. It appears photographs available online were used to replicate the registration,” a senior police officer said.
As the investigation expanded beyond West Bengal, teams from the CID travelled to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to establish links between the arrested men and the individuals suspected of masterminding the killing.
Officials said investigators are now trying to piece together how the accused were hired, who financed the operation and what exactly motivated the murder.
While the three alleged shooters are now in custody, police believe the larger conspiracy behind the killing is yet to be fully uncovered.
The murder has also drawn the attention of both state and central intelligence agencies because of the sophisticated firearm allegedly used in the crime.
Earlier in the investigation, officials identified the suspected weapon as an Austrian-made Glock 47X pistol — a high-end firearm rarely seen in ordinary criminal cases.
The use of such a weapon has raised concerns among investigators about the possible involvement of organised criminal networks or professionally trained shooters.
For now, the CID continues its multi-state investigation, focusing on uncovering the chain connecting the alleged hitmen to the local conspirators believed to have orchestrated the murder.
Police officials said the exact motive behind Chandranath Rath’s killing remains under investigation.
