CBI To Take Over Chandranath Rath Murder Probe In West Bengal

The investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath will now be handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation, officials said on Tuesday.

A seven-member Special Investigation Team headed by a DIG-rank CBI officer has been formed to examine the case. The agency will likely take charge of the probe from the West Bengal Police later in the day. Earlier, the state police had itself recommended a CBI inquiry.

The development comes a day after the West Bengal Police arrested three alleged sharpshooters from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the killing.

A court in Barasat remanded the accused to police custody till May 24.

Sources said officials secretly brought the three men to Kolkata on Sunday night. Investigators questioned them for several hours at Bhabani Bhavan, the state police headquarters in South Kolkata.

How the Attack Took Place

Rath served as the personal assistant to the current West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari. Unknown assailants shot him dead on May 6 in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district.

Investigators said Rath was returning home from a party event when his vehicle was intercepted by a four-wheeler at a crossing.

During the attack, one of the two motorcycles allegedly following his car stopped nearby. An assailant then fired around ten rounds from close range.

Rath died at the scene, while his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, suffered serious injuries and is currently recovering.

The probe later found that the registration numbers used on the four-wheeler and the motorcycles involved in the attack were fake.

The murder occurred two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced. In the elections, the BJP won 207 seats, while the All India Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80.

CM Suvendu Adhikari later alleged that Rath was targeted because he worked for the leader who defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. He added that the victory margin exceeded 15,000 votes.

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