In a major breakthrough in the murder case of Chandranath Rath, close aide and personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a key accused from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar. Officials said the arrest could help unravel the larger conspiracy behind the sensational killing that triggered a political storm in West Bengal.
The accused, identified as Raj Kumar Singh alias Raj Singh, was arrested on Monday by a CBI team with assistance from the Uttar Pradesh Police. He is believed to be one of the principal accused in the murder of Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near his residence in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6, just days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared.
According to investigators, Rath’s killing appeared to be a meticulously planned operation involving multiple accused and suspected professional shooters. Preliminary findings suggest that the attackers had closely monitored Rath’s movements before executing the attack. After the murder, the accused allegedly fled to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in an attempt to evade arrest.
The CBI had taken over the investigation from the West Bengal Police following a recommendation by the state government amid mounting political pressure and public scrutiny over the case. A seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by senior CBI officers was subsequently constituted to probe the murder and identify all those involved in the conspiracy.
Before the CBI stepped in, West Bengal Police had arrested three suspects in connection with the killing. Investigators had then indicated that the operation may have been coordinated from outside the state and involved hired shooters. Officials are also examining the possibility that Rath’s murder was a contract killing, though the exact motive behind the crime is still under investigation.
Sources associated with the probe said Raj Kumar Singh’s arrest is expected to provide crucial leads regarding the planning, execution and financing of the murder. The agency is now likely to intensify searches and raids in multiple states to trace other suspects linked to the case.
The murder of Chandranath Rath, considered one of the most trusted associates of Suvendu Adhikari, had sparked sharp political reactions across West Bengal. Opposition parties raised serious questions over the law-and-order situation in the state, while the incident triggered renewed debate on political violence and security concerns following the assembly elections.
