Bengal CM Adhikari blames 'nephew-gang' for murder of ex-aide Chandranath Rath
Synopsis
Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has publicly alleged that a ₹2 crore contract killing was ordered by the 'nephew-gang' — his pointed reference to Abhishek Banerjee — to murder his former PA Chandranath Rath, shot dead two days after TMC's election defeat. The accusation landed the same day Rath's mother filed her BJP nomination for the Nandigram by-election, making the murder case the political flashpoint of the October 6 contest.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari alleged on 15 September 2026 that the 'nephew-gang' — widely understood as a reference to Abhishek Banerjee — ordered the killing of his former PA Chandranath Rath .
Adhikari claimed contract killers were hired for ₹2 crore and that he has heard 'multiple call recordings' implicating the alleged conspirators.
Chandranath Rath , a retired Indian Air Force serviceman, was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas on 6 May 2026 — two days after West Bengal election results were declared.
The CBI has taken over the investigation; seven persons have been arrested but the mastermind has not been officially identified.
Hasirani Rath , the victim's mother, filed her BJP nomination from Nandigram on the same day, for the by-election scheduled on 6 October .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 15 September publicly alleged that the so-called 'nephew-gang' — an indirect reference to Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee — was behind the assassination of his former Personal Assistant, retired Indian Air Force serviceman Chandranath Rath, in May 2026. The charge marks one of the most direct political accusations in the ongoing murder investigation, which has so far seen seven arrests without any conclusive determination of the masterminds.
What the Chief Minister Alleged
Speaking publicly on Tuesday, Adhikari claimed he had received 'specific information' pointing to the 'nephew-gang' as the force behind the killing. 'I have received specific information that the 'nephew-gang' was behind Chandranath's murder. Contract killers were hired at ₹2 crore for the assassination. I have heard multiple call recordings which clearly show that the 'nephew-gang' was behind the assassination conspiracy,' he said.
Adhikari stopped short of directly naming Abhishek Banerjee — who is also the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — but the term 'nephew-gang' has been widely understood in Bengal's political lexicon as an allusion to him. The TMC has not yet issued a formal response to the latest allegations.
The Killing of Chandranath Rath
Chandranath Rath was shot dead at close range on the evening of 6 May 2026, while returning home to Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district — just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared, which resulted in a landslide defeat for the Trinamool Congress. Adhikari said Rath had been targeted precisely because he served as his principal aide during his tenure as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
The case was initially investigated by West Bengal Police before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe. Despite seven arrests on suspicion of involvement, the question of who ultimately ordered the killing remains unresolved, according to reports.
The Political Backdrop
Adhikari's explosive remarks came on the same day that Hasirani Rath, Chandranath's mother, filed her nomination as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Nandigram Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, for the by-election scheduled on 6 October. The timing of the allegation and the nomination announcement on the same day is unlikely to be coincidental, with observers noting the BJP's clear intent to make the Rath murder a central electoral issue in Nandigram.
This comes amid a broader pattern of political violence allegations that have shadowed West Bengal in the post-election period. Notably, Nandigram — the constituency Adhikari won to become Chief Minister — carries deep symbolic weight for both the BJP and TMC.
What Happens Next
The CBI probe continues, with investigators yet to publicly name any political figure as a suspect. Whether Adhikari's 'call recordings' claim translates into actionable evidence before the court remains to be seen. With the Nandigram by-election on 6 October, the murder case is now firmly embedded in the electoral contest, and any development in the CBI investigation could have immediate political consequences.
Point of View
Turning a murder case into a ballot-box narrative. The claim of 'call recordings' is serious if real, but it has been made at a press appearance, not before the CBI or a court, which leaves it in the realm of political allegation rather than legal evidence. The CBI's silence on any political angle so far is conspicuous. What mainstream coverage misses is the structural dynamic: post-election political violence in Bengal has historically gone unpunished regardless of which party is in power, and the pattern of opposition figures citing 'evidence' through press conferences rather than through judicial affidavits warrants scrutiny from both sides.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and how was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was a retired Indian Air Force serviceman who served as the principal aide and Personal Assistant to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari when Adhikari was Leader of Opposition. He was shot dead at close range on the evening of 6 May 2026 in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared.
What did CM Suvendu Adhikari allege about the murder?
Adhikari alleged that the 'nephew-gang' — a term widely understood to refer to Abhishek Banerjee, TMC General Secretary and nephew of Mamata Banerjee — orchestrated the killing by hiring contract killers for ₹2 crore. He claimed to have heard multiple call recordings supporting this allegation, though he stopped short of directly naming Abhishek Banerjee.
What is the status of the CBI investigation into the Rath murder?
The CBI took over the probe after the West Bengal Police conducted initial investigations. Seven persons have been arrested on suspicion of involvement, but the agency has not publicly named any political figure as a suspect, and the question of who ordered the killing remains officially unresolved.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee and why is he referred to as the 'nephew'?
Abhishek Banerjee is the General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress and the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour. He is the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which is why Adhikari's reference to a 'nephew-gang' is widely read as an indirect allegation against him.
What is the significance of Hasirani Rath filing her nomination from Nandigram?
Hasirani Rath, the mother of the slain Chandranath Rath, filed her BJP nomination on 15 September 2026 for the Nandigram Assembly by-election scheduled on 6 October. The BJP's move to field her makes the murder case a central electoral issue in a constituency that carries significant symbolic weight for both BJP and TMC.
