Investigation Into Killing Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath Advances But No Arrest As Yet

West Bengal Police have intensified their probe into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, describing the May 6 night shooting as a meticulously planned operation carried out by professional assailants.

Rath, 41, a former Indian Air Force officer who had retired to work closely with Adhikari, was fatally shot around 10pm on Wednesday while on his way to his residence in his Scorpio SUV in the Doltala/Doharia area of Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district, barely 100–200 metres from his residence. According to police and eyewitness accounts, a separate car with a fake number plate pulled in front to block his vehicle. Two men on a motorcycle then opened fire at point-blank range. Rath was struck by three bullets - two in the chest (one piercing the heart) and one in the abdomen and died on the spot from excessive blood loss and multiple organ failure. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained injuries and was hospitalised. Bera is battling for his life now. 

A post-mortem examination conducted at Barasat Government Medical College and Hospital confirmed the gunshot wounds were from a semi-automatic firearm, with preliminary indications pointing to an improvised pistol of relatively low calibre. Forensic teams recovered cartridge shells and live rounds from the scene. Police have described the attack as pre-planned, with evidence of reconnaissance conducted over the previous two to three days. CCTV footage shows the blocking car positioned in the area approximately three hours before the incident, and investigators believe Rath’s movements were monitored. He had reportedly received calls from unknown numbers in the days leading up to the killing and shared the details with police.

In a significant breakthrough on Thursday, authorities seized two vehicles linked to the crime. The blocking car, found abandoned nearby, had a tampered number plate traced to a vehicle registered in Siliguri; its chassis number had been erased. The motorcycle used by the assailants was recovered a few kilometres away near Gate 2.5 of Kolkata airport, also with its chassis number removed. Both vehicles showed signs of deliberate tampering consistent with a professional hit.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted under an Inspector-General rank officer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), comprising officers from the CID’s homicide wing, Intelligence Branch, and State Task Force. Multiple teams are analysing CCTV footage from Madhyamgram, Barasat, and airport routes, processing forensic evidence, and questioning witnesses. At least three individuals have been detained for questioning, though the main shooters remain at large. The Border Security Force has been alerted to check for any possible cross-border movement.

Senior police officials, including the state DGP, have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that all angles are being examined, with no motive officially established yet. “The probe is continuing. We cannot share more details at this stage,” said a senior officer.

Suvendu Adhikari, a frontrunner to become the next Chief Minister following the BJP’s decisive victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, visited Rath’s family and described the killing as a “pre-planned cold-blooded murder.” He alleged it was politically motivated due to Rath’s close association with him and claimed reconnaissance had been conducted in advance. Adhikari has appealed for calm and urged that the culprits be brought to justice swiftly.

The Trinamool Congress condemned the incident and called for a court-monitored investigation, stating that “violence and political killings have no place in a democracy.”

The murder has occurred amid heightened post-poll tensions following the BJP’s historic win, which ended 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule. While broader post-election violence has led to over 400 arrests across the state, the Rath case is being treated as a targeted incident under the dedicated SIT. As of Friday morning, no arrests of the primary perpetrators have been announced, and the investigation continues with forensic and digital evidence analysis expected to yield further leads in the coming days.