CBI raids Delhi in Chandranath Rath murder case, suspect not found
Synopsis
The CBI's Delhi raid in the Chandranath Rath murder case came up empty — but the confessions of arrested suspect Mayank Raj Mishra are building a detailed picture: a Jharkhand-sourced vehicle, a fake number plate traced to Siliguri, a ₹1 lakh delivery fee, and a killing timed two days after West Bengal's election results. The network is wider than three arrests.
Key Takeaways
CBI and Delhi Police Special Cell raided two houses in Swaroop Nagar, Delhi on 16 May in the Chandranath Rath murder case.
The suspect being sought was not found ; a notice was served to his father to ensure his appearance before the agency.
Arrested suspect Mayank Raj Mishra has reportedly confessed to transporting the assassination vehicle from Jharkhand to Barasat for ₹1,00,000 .
The vehicle's number plate was allegedly replaced with a fake one registered at the RTO Siliguri , Darjeeling.
Chandranath Rath was shot dead on 6 May — two days after West Bengal election results — with 10 rounds fired at close range; driver Buddhadeb Bera is recovering.
Three suspects have been arrested; investigators are working to identify the full conspiracy network, including a Jharkhand-based handler .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted extensive search operations in Delhi's Swaroop Nagar locality on Saturday, 16 May, as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The raids, carried out jointly with the Delhi Police Special Cell, targeted two separate residences in the area in an effort to trace an individual believed to be connected to the killing.
What Happened During the Raids
The search operation stretched over several hours across both premises in Swaroop Nagar. According to officials, the suspect being sought was not found at either location during the operation. Before withdrawing, the CBI team served an official notice to the suspect's father, directing him to cooperate with the investigation and ensure the individual's appearance before the agency.
The Vehicle Trail: A Jharkhand Connection
Preliminary findings have established that the four-wheeler allegedly used in the assassination was procured from neighbouring Jharkhand. According to officials, investigators are actively examining multiple leads related to the vehicle, the movements of the accused, and the broader conspiracy behind the murder.
As per confessions attributed to Mayank Raj Mishra, one of three suspects arrested in the case, he was reportedly contracted by a Jharkhand-based individual to transport the vehicle from Jharkhand to Barasat in North 24 Parganas district — in close proximity to the assassination site at a crossing in Madhyamgram in the same district. Mishra has reportedly confessed that upon reaching an abandoned spot near the Barasat rail gate, he replaced the vehicle's number plate with a fake one. The original plate, according to the confession, is registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) at Siliguri in Darjeeling district, West Bengal.
Mishra reportedly received ₹1,00,000 for delivering the vehicle. After completing the handover at Barasat, he allegedly travelled to Howrah Station, boarded a train to Buxar, where he was subsequently arrested.
How Chandranath Rath Was Killed
Chandranath Rath was murdered on the night of 6 May, just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared on 4 May. He was returning home to Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas from a party programme when his vehicle was blocked at a crossing by the four-wheeler that had been brought from Jharkhand.
According to the initial investigation, two motorcycles had been shadowing Rath's vehicle for an extended period. Once his car was brought to a halt, an assailant on one of the motorcycles fired ten rounds at close range. Rath died on the spot. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries but is reportedly recovering.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
The CBI is working to establish the identities and roles of all individuals involved in the conspiracy, including the Jharkhand-based handler who allegedly commissioned the vehicle delivery. With the suspect in Delhi still at large, the agency's focus is now on tracing the full network behind the killing. The political timing of the murder — coming within days of election results in a state marked by post-poll violence — has drawn sharp scrutiny from multiple quarters.
Point of View
In a state with a documented history of political violence following electoral cycles. The CBI's involvement signals that the Centre is treating this as more than a routine homicide. What the investigation must now answer is not just who pulled the trigger, but who commissioned the operation — and whether the Jharkhand network points to an organised, cross-state political conspiracy rather than a local settling of scores.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and why was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was the personal assistant of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. He was shot dead on the night of 6 May in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, two days after West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. The motive is still under investigation, and the CBI is working to establish the full conspiracy.
What did the CBI find during the Delhi raids?
The CBI, along with the Delhi Police Special Cell, searched two houses in Swaroop Nagar on 16 May but did not find the suspect they were looking for. The agency served an official notice to the suspect's father, directing him to cooperate and produce the individual before investigators.
What has arrested suspect Mayank Raj Mishra confessed to?
According to officials, Mishra has confessed to being hired by a Jharkhand-based individual to transport the four-wheeler used in the assassination from Jharkhand to Barasat, North 24 Parganas, for ₹1,00,000. He allegedly replaced the vehicle's number plate with a fake one near the Barasat rail gate before the killing, and was arrested in Buxar after fleeing via Howrah Station.
How was Chandranath Rath assassinated?
Rath's vehicle was blocked at a crossing in Madhyamgram by the four-wheeler brought from Jharkhand. Two motorcycles had been trailing his car; once it stopped, an assailant on one motorcycle fired ten rounds at close range, killing Rath on the spot. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, was critically injured but is reportedly recovering.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Three suspects have been arrested so far. The CBI is examining leads related to the vehicle, the movements of the accused, and the broader conspiracy, including the identity of the Jharkhand-based handler. The Delhi suspect remains at large as of 16 May.
