Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 5: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two alleged key conspirators in the murder case of Chandranath Rath, a close aide to West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, marking a major development in the ongoing probe.
According to officials, the accused — Vikas Mishra and Golu Singh — were apprehended during coordinated operations carried out in Uttar Pradesh. Mishra was arrested from a hotel in Lucknow, while Singh was taken into custody from Ballia district.
Investigators believe both men played significant roles in planning and carrying out the killing, officials said.
In a parallel development, another accused, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, alias Monu, surrendered before a Gangsters Act court in Ballia on Thursday. The court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
Police records identify Monu as a history-sheeter with multiple criminal cases registered against him. He is also among the accused wanted in connection with Rath’s murder.
Chandranath Rath, who served as executive assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on May 6 in Madhyamgram’s Doharia area on the outskirts of Kolkata. The attack took place on a public road shortly after the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results.
Rath sustained severe gunshot injuries and was rushed to a nearby private hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The killing triggered sharp political reactions across West Bengal, with opposition leaders questioning the state's law-and-order situation and demanding a thorough investigation.
After taking over the case, the CBI launched an extensive probe, examining multiple leads and tracking suspects across states. Officials said the recent arrests and the surrender of another accused are expected to provide crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding the murder.
Investigators are now focusing on uncovering the wider conspiracy, identifying all those involved, and establishing the motive behind the high-profile killing.