CBI arrests fifth accused in Chandranath Rath murder case from Varanasi
Synopsis
Five accused are now in CBI custody in the Chandranath Rath murder case — and the net is still widening. The killing of Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant, a former Air Force man, within 48 hours of West Bengal's election results has triggered a multi-state manhunt spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Delhi, with organised crime charges now formally on record.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested the fifth accused, Vinay Rai alias Pumpum Rai , 40 , from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 20 May .
Alleged main shooter Rajkumar Singh was caught near a toll plaza on the Haridwar-Delhi Highway , around 30 km from Muzaffarnagar , on 19 May .
Three other accused — Mayank Raj Mishra , Vicky Maurya , and Raj Singh — are in police custody until 24 May .
Victim Chandranath Rath , 41 , a former Indian Air Force serviceman, was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24-Parganas on 6 May — within 48 hours of West Bengal election results.
CBI has charged accused under BNS Sections 103(1), 61(1), and 111(2)(a) — including organised crime — along with Arms Act Sections 25 and 27 .
The case was transferred from West Bengal Police's SIT to the CBI given the severity of the crime.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday, 20 May arrested the fifth accused in the murder case of Chandranath Rath — personal assistant to West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari — from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, central agency officials confirmed. The arrested individual has been identified as Vinay Rai alias Pumpum Rai, 40, originally from the Zamani area of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Key Developments in the Arrest Trail
The latest arrest follows a rapid sequence of detentions across multiple states. A day earlier, on Monday, 19 May, the CBI — in a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Police — apprehended the alleged main shooter, Rajkumar Singh, a resident of Chhapar in Uttar Pradesh. Investigators had initially raided a house in Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area but failed to locate him there. Singh was eventually caught near a toll plaza on the Haridwar-Delhi Highway, approximately 30 km from Muzaffarnagar, as he reportedly attempted to flee through Delhi and Haridwar.
According to CBI sources, Singh's name surfaced during the interrogation of two earlier accused — Mayank Raj Mishra and Raj Singh. A court has since sent three arrested accused — Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya, and Raj Singh — to police custody until 24 May. They were arrested from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in earlier phases of the investigation.
The Murder: What Happened on 6 May
Chandranath Rath, 41, a former Indian Air Force serviceman, was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24-Parganas, late on 6 May — within 48 hours of the announcement of West Bengal assembly election results. Rath was seated in the passenger seat of a car when unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire, and fled. The vehicle's driver was also injured in the attack. Both were rushed to hospital, where Rath was declared dead.
The West Bengal Police initially formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and arrested two accused from Uttar Pradesh and an alleged sharpshooter from Buxar, Bihar. Given the gravity of the crime, the case was subsequently handed over to the CBI.
Charges Filed and Legal Proceedings
After re-registering the matter, the CBI filed charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including Section 103(1) for murder, Section 61(1) for criminal conspiracy, and Section 111(2)(a) relating to organised crime. Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act were also invoked.
Public Prosecutor Advocate Bivas Chatterjee informed the court that the prosecution had also sought additional charges for destruction of evidence, which the court accepted. The investigation was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by Rath's brother, who alleged in his statement that the killing was the result of a planned and well-organised conspiracy involving several unidentified persons. Following his arrest, Rajkumar Singh was granted transit remand and produced before a special CBI court in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Political Response and Family's Reaction
Suvendu Adhikari visited Rath's residence on Sunday to attend the funeral service, where he assured Rath's mother, Hasirani Rath, that those responsible for the murder would be brought to justice. Hasirani Rath said she had faith in the Chief Minister. This is the fifth arrest in a case that has drawn national attention for its political backdrop and the multi-state manhunt it has triggered.
What Happens Next
The CBI has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and further action is expected. With five accused now in custody and charges of organised crime formally on record, the case is likely to see additional arrests as interrogations continue. The multi-state sweep — spanning West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi — signals that investigators believe the conspiracy network extends beyond those already detained.
Point of View
And the CBI's invocation of organised crime charges under BNS Section 111(2)(a) signals that investigators believe this was a contracted hit, not an isolated act. The multi-state trail — cutting through UP, Bihar, and Delhi — raises uncomfortable questions about the infrastructure of political violence in India. The speed of arrests is notable, but the more consequential question is whether the conspiracy's alleged masterminds are among those yet to be named.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chandranath Rath and why was he killed?
Chandranath Rath, 41, was the personal assistant of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and a former Indian Air Force serviceman. He was shot dead on 6 May in Madhyamgram, North 24-Parganas. His brother has alleged in a complaint that the killing was the result of a planned and well-organised conspiracy, though investigators have not yet publicly disclosed a confirmed motive.
Who is the fifth accused arrested by the CBI?
The fifth accused is Vinay Rai alias Pumpum Rai, 40, originally from the Zamani area of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested from Varanasi on 20 May 2025 by the CBI.
Who is the alleged main shooter in the Chandranath Rath case?
The alleged main shooter has been identified as Rajkumar Singh, a resident of Chhapar in Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested on 19 May near a toll plaza on the Haridwar-Delhi Highway, approximately 30 km from Muzaffarnagar, as he reportedly attempted to flee.
What charges has the CBI filed in the case?
The CBI has filed charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including Section 103(1) for murder, Section 61(1) for criminal conspiracy, and Section 111(2)(a) for organised crime. Arms Act Sections 25 and 27 have also been invoked, and the court has additionally accepted a prosecution plea to include charges for destruction of evidence.
Why was the case transferred from West Bengal Police to the CBI?
West Bengal Police initially formed an SIT and made early arrests, but handed the case to the CBI owing to the severity of the crime and its apparent multi-state dimensions. The CBI re-registered the matter as a regular case and has since expanded the scope of charges.
