The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted search operations in Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar area regarding the murder case of Chandranath Rath, the PA of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The raids, carried out jointly with the Delhi Police Special Cell, aimed to locate an individual linked to the case. Despite searching two houses in Swaroop Nagar, the sought-after person was not found during the operation.
After the searches, the CBI team served an official notice to the suspect’s father, urging cooperation with the investigation and the individual’s appearance before the agency. Preliminary findings suggest that the car used in Rath’s assassination was obtained from Jharkhand. Investigators are pursuing leads on the vehicle, the suspects’ movements, and the broader conspiracy. Efforts are underway to identify all individuals involved in the case.
According to sources, one of the arrested suspects, Mayank Raj Mishra, confessed to being contracted by a Jharkhand-based person to transport the car from Jharkhand to Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. Mishra admitted to changing the car’s number plate near Barasat after receiving Rs 1,00,000 for the delivery. Following the delivery, Mishra traveled to Buxar, where he was apprehended.
Chandranath Rath was murdered on May 6, shortly after the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced. While returning home from a party event, Rath’s vehicle was intercepted by the car from Jharkhand. An assailant on a motorcycle shot Rath multiple times at close range, resulting in his death. The driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries but is now recovering.
