CBI murder case: Two more arrested in Chandranath Rath killing, sent to 7-day custody
Synopsis
Two more accused — Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar — have been remanded to seven-day CBI custody in the murder of Chandranath Rath, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's executive assistant. With total arrests now at 11, intercepted phone calls reportedly link the duo to influential TMC leaders despite their formal switch to BJP — a detail that could reshape the political dimensions of this high-profile post-election killing.
Key Takeaways
Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar were remanded to seven-day CBI custody by a special court in Kolkata on 31 July .
Total arrests in the Chandranath Rath murder case have risen to 11 .
Both accused reportedly switched from TMC to BJP before the West Bengal Assembly elections but allegedly maintained contact with TMC leaders.
The CBI obtained key evidence through intercepted telephonic conversations of the accused.
Chandranath Rath was murdered at Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas on 6 May 2025 , days after BJP's landslide election win.
The probe was initially handled by the West Bengal CID before being transferred to the CBI .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday, 31 July secured a seven-day custody remand for two newly arrested accused — Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar — in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, executive assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. A special CBI court in Kolkata granted the remand, pushing the total number of arrests in the case to 11.
What the CBI Has Revealed So Far
CBI officials have remained tight-lipped about the specific location and time of the two arrests, disclosing only that the accused were produced before the special court on Friday evening. The agency has also been guarded about the political affiliations of the duo, though it acknowledged they once had links to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the party that governed West Bengal until earlier this year.
According to an insider from the probe agency, both accused had formally switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. However, the same source indicated that investigation has revealed the arrested pair remained in contact with several influential TMC leaders even after the switch.
Intercepted Calls Yield Key Evidence
The CBI has reportedly obtained crucial information by intercepting telephonic conversations of the two accused. These intercepts are said to have shed light on their alleged connections to political figures — a development that could significantly shape the direction of the investigation. Further details have not been made public as the probe is ongoing.
Background: The Murder of Chandranath Rath
Chandranath Rath was killed at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on the evening of 6 May 2025, while returning home. The killing occurred nearly two days after the declaration of West Bengal Assembly election results, which delivered a landslide victory to the BJP, ending 15 years of TMC rule under Mamata Banerjee from 2011 to 2026.
A former associate of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Rath had served as Adhikari's executive assistant since the current Chief Minister held the post of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The case was initially probed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police before being transferred to the CBI.
Where the Investigation Stands
With 11 arrests now made, the CBI's probe has expanded steadily since it took over from the state CID. The seven-day custody of Sagar and Sahib Sonkar is expected to allow investigators to map the alleged conspiracy and identify any remaining accused. The case carries significant political weight given the victim's proximity to the sitting Chief Minister and the post-election backdrop of the killing.
Point of View
And also the least examined. If intercepted calls confirm active TMC connections post-defection, it would suggest the murder was not merely post-poll violence but a more organised act with cross-party entanglement. The CBI's silence on arrest locations and timings is unusual and may signal sensitivity around the political trail. Eleven arrests in a case involving a sitting Chief Minister's personal aide demand a pace of accountability that matches the political stakes.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar?
Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar are two individuals arrested by the CBI in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, executive assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. They were remanded to seven-day CBI custody by a special court in Kolkata on 31 July.
Who was Chandranath Rath and how was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was the executive assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and a former Indian Air Force associate. He was murdered at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas on the evening of 6 May 2025, while returning home — roughly two days after BJP's landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
How many people have been arrested in the Chandranath Rath murder case?
With the arrest of Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar, the total number of arrests in the case has risen to 11. The CBI took over the investigation from the West Bengal Police's CID after the initial probe was launched by the state agency.
What is the political angle in the Chandranath Rath murder case?
According to an insider from the probe agency, both newly arrested accused had previously been associated with the TMC before formally joining the BJP ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. However, investigation reportedly revealed they remained in contact with influential TMC leaders, a connection the CBI is pursuing through intercepted phone calls.
Why was the case transferred from West Bengal CID to the CBI?
The initial investigation into Chandranath Rath's murder was handled by the Criminal Investigation Department of the West Bengal Police. The probe was subsequently transferred to the CBI, likely given the political sensitivity of the case and its connection to the sitting Chief Minister's office.
