The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is examining the possibility that the murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was orchestrated as a contract killing involving interstate criminal elements. Reports indicate that over Rs 1 crore may have been invested in the execution of this meticulously planned crime, which reportedly involved forged vehicle registrations and the use of sophisticated weaponry.

Rath was shot dead inside his SUV on May 6, 2026, mere days after the announcement of the West Bengal Assembly election results. The incident took place on a public road in Madhyamgram, located in the North 24 Parganas district. Following the incident, investigators suspect that multiple criminal operatives collaborated across state borders to facilitate the murder, exploiting illegal means to conceal their identities and actions.

On May 12, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the CBI returned to the crime scene for further analysis, equipped with forensic experts to review existing evidence. This review lasted several hours and was led by Deputy Inspector General Pankaj Kumar Singh from the CBI. Concurrently, members of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory undertook the collection of blood samples and other forensic material to further support the investigation.

Financial Aspects of the Alleged Contract Kill

According to sources within law enforcement, the operation that led to Rath’s murder may have entailed extensive financial backing, amounting to over Rs 1 crore. This significant sum likely covered expenses for weapons, surveillance, transportation, and hired gunmen. One firearm used in the attack is speculated to be valued at over Rs 10 lakh in the illegal market.

Officials have raised critical questions about who provided the funding for this operation and their motivations behind it. The expenses associated with employing sharpshooters, conducting reconnaissance on Rath’s movements, and arranging vehicles for a coordinated escape suggest a well-organised conspiracy. Investigators are under pressure to trace the financial trails leading to the alleged perpetrators.

The CBI’s takeover of the case from the West Bengal Police was formalised on May 8, prompted by a request from the state government. A First Information Report (FIR) has since been lodged, allowing the CBI to establish a multidisciplinary SIT dedicated to a thorough and time-sensitive investigation. All potential angles, including interstate connections and conspiracies, are reportedly being investigated as the team aims to unearth the broader context surrounding Rath’s murder.

Timeline of Events and Arrests in the Case

The assault on Rath occurred near his residence in Madhyamgram, approximately 7 km from Kolkata airport. Reports suggest that his SUV was intercepted by a silver car, leading to a close-range shooting carried out by armed assailants on motorcycles. Following the attack, witnesses claim the perpetrators abandoned the silver vehicle and fled in a different red car and motorcycle. Two motorcycles associated with the crime have since been recovered.

Initial investigative efforts have resulted in the arrest of three individuals linked to the crime, including a suspected sharpshooter. The suspects, identified as Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya, and Raj Singh, were apprehended in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Investigators traced them through a digital payment made at a toll plaza in Howrah district. The sophisticated methodology observed in the killing has raised suspicions about prior planning and interstate coordination among the accused.

As further inquiries continue, investigators are endeavouring to determine who orchestrated the murder, who financed it, and what the specific motives behind the attack could have been. The court has remanded the suspects to police custody for further interrogation until May 24, as questions regarding their knowledge of Rath’s movements and the complete network involved in the case remain unresolved.

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