CBI takes over West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikhari's aide murder case, forms 7-member SIT led by DIG

The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI has taken over the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ANI reportedSources said a sevenmember Special Investigation Team SIT has been formed to handle the case The team will be headed by a DIGrank officerVictim details and incidentChandranath Rath a former Indian Air Force personnel and aide to Suvendu Adhikari was shot dead near Madhyamgram on the night of May 6 He later succumbed to his injuries at the hospitalArrests and police custodyThree accused Mayank Raj Mishra Vicky Maurya and Raj Singh have been arrested in the caseMishra and Maurya were detained from Buxar in BiharRaj Singh was arrested from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on May 10 based on investigative leadsAll three were interrogated and formally arrested on Monday morning They have been remanded to police custody till May 24Court proceedings and additional chargesPublic Prosecutor Advocate Bivas Chatterjee said the prosecution also sought additional charges related to destruction of evidence The court accepted the request and added the relevant sectionsldquoThe three accused have been sent to 13 days of police custody We also sought addition of the section relating to destruction of evidence which has been added by the courtrdquo Chatterjee told reportersPolitical reactions and allegationsSuvendu Adhikari termed the killing a ldquopremeditated murderrdquo alleging that Rath was targeted due to his political association and his connection with Adhikari after his electoral victory over Mamata Banerjee in BhabanipurHe further alleged that the attack was planned in advance claiming Rath was under surveillance and followed for several days before being shot at close rangeDemand for independent probeThe Trinamool Congress has demanded a courtmonitored CBI investigation for an impartial probe The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee has also called for an independent investigation under judicial supervisionWho was Chandranath Rath From Air Force officer to BJP backroom strategistChandranath Rath a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was shot dead in West Bengalrsquos North 24 Parganas district marking a tragic end to a life that moved from military service to political strategy and groundlevel coordination PTI reportedFrom Indian Air Force to civilian lifeRath 41 originally hailed from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district a politically significant region closely associated with Suvendu Adhikarirsquos rise in Bengal politicsHe served in the Indian Air Force for nearly two decades after completing his education at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission Known to be softspoken and disciplined he remained largely away from the public spotlightSpiritual roots and early influencesPTI sources close to the family said Rath had once considered a spiritual path and was influenced by the values of the Ramakrishna Mission during his student years His upbringing reflected a strong sense of discipline and servicePostretirement career shiftAfter taking voluntary retirement from the Air Force Rath briefly worked in the corporate sector before gradually transitioning into political coordination and administrative workOver time he became involved in organisational and logistical responsibilities in political circles especially linked to Suvendu Adhikarirsquos teamEntry into politics and Adhikarirsquos inner circleRath formally joined Adhikarirsquos political team around 2019 initially handling duties related to the ministerial office when Adhikari was part of the West Bengal governmentAfter Adhikarirsquos shift to the BJP Rath continued to work closely with him managing coordination logistics and communication with party workersA key behindthescenes operatorWithin BJP circles Rath was regarded as a trusted ldquotroubleshooterrdquo and backroom strategist He was reportedly involved in sensitive campaign coordination work including highstakes elections such as the Bhabanipur contestParty insiders described him as someone who enjoyed complete confidence from Adhikari and was often assigned critical organisational responsibilitiesFamily and political backgroundRathrsquos family also had political links His mother Hasi Rath had earlier served in a local panchayat body during the Trinamool Congress period before the family shifted allegiance to the BJP in 2020 along with AdhikariSudden and violent endOn May 6 Rath was allegedly intercepted by motorcycleborne assailants near Madhyamgramrsquos Doharia area and shot at close range He later succumbed to his injuries in the hospitalHis death has triggered strong political reactions in West Bengal further intensifying tensions in the postelection climateWith ANI PTI inputs