CBI visits Madhyamgram assassination spot in Bengal CM's PA murder case
Synopsis
Just two days after BJP's landslide in West Bengal, the CM's personal assistant was shot dead in a coordinated ambush with fake-plated vehicles. Now the CBI has stepped in, visiting the crime scene and eyeing custody of three arrested sharpshooters — a case that sits squarely at the intersection of politics and organised crime.
Key Takeaways
The CBI took over the murder probe of Chandranath Rath on Tuesday and visited the assassination site at Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas .
Rath , personal assistant to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead on 6 May — two days after the Assembly election results.
An assailant fired 10 rounds at close range; Rath's driver Buddhadeb Bera was critically injured but is recovering.
Three sharpshooters — Mayank Raj Mishra , Vicky Mourya , and Raj Singh — are in West Bengal Police custody; CBI plans to seek their custody.
The BJP won 207 seats in the West Bengal polls; TMC was reduced to 80 .
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday visited the assassination site at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, hours after formally taking over the probe into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The CBI first officially assumed charge from the West Bengal Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) before proceeding to the crime scene.
Background of the Murder
Rath was shot dead on the night of 6 May while returning home to Madhyamgram from a party programme. He was ambushed at a crossing when a four-wheeler blocked his vehicle, after which an assailant on one of two motorcycles that had been trailing him fired 10 rounds at close range. Rath died on the spot, while his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, was critically injured. Bera is reportedly recovering.
How the Attack Was Executed
According to initial investigation findings, the four-wheeler deliberately stopped Rath's vehicle at the crossing, allowing a motorcyclist to pull alongside and open fire. Later probe revealed that the number plates on the four-wheeler as well as both motorcycles were fake, indicating a premeditated and coordinated hit. The killing came just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared on 4 May.
Three Sharpshooters Already Arrested
The West Bengal Police SIT had previously arrested three persons — Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Mourya, and Raj Singh — all described as sharpshooters. All three remain in West Bengal Police custody. Sources aware of the development indicated that the CBI is planning to seek custody of the three accused for further interrogation.
Political Context
The murder occurred against the backdrop of a decisive electoral shift in West Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 of the state's Assembly constituencies, reducing the erstwhile ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to just 80 seats. Chief Minister Adhikari claimed that Rath was targeted because he was the personal assistant of the leader who defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, South Kolkata, by a margin of over 15,000 votes.
Investigation Handover
The SIT of the West Bengal Police had been handling the case until Tuesday morning, when the Centre handed the probe to the CBI. The central agency's officials formally took charge before conducting their first site inspection. The case is expected to intensify as the CBI pushes for custody of the three arrested accused for deeper interrogation into the conspiracy behind the killing.
Point of View
Executed with professional precision — fake plates, coordinated vehicles, multiple sharpshooters — just 48 hours after a historic BJP sweep, cannot be read as ordinary crime. The Centre's decision to transfer the case from the state SIT to the CBI reflects deep distrust of the Bengal Police's ability — or willingness — to pursue leads that may implicate politically connected actors. Whether the CBI can break through the custody standoff with state police and access the three arrested sharpshooters will be the first real test of this probe's independence.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and why was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was the personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He was shot dead on 6 May in a coordinated ambush at Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results. CM Adhikari claimed Rath was targeted because of his association with the leader who defeated former CM Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Why has the CBI taken over the Chandranath Rath murder case?
The Centre handed the investigation to the CBI on Tuesday, transferring it from the West Bengal Police's Special Investigation Team. The CBI formally assumed charge and conducted its first site visit to Madhyamgram on the same day.
Who has been arrested in the Chandranath Rath murder case?
Three persons — Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Mourya, and Raj Singh — all described as sharpshooters, have been arrested by the West Bengal Police SIT. They remain in state police custody, and the CBI is reportedly seeking to take them into its own custody for further interrogation.
How was the assassination of Chandranath Rath carried out?
Rath's vehicle was blocked by a four-wheeler at a crossing while he was returning home. Two motorcycles had been trailing him; an assailant on one of them fired 10 rounds at close range, killing Rath on the spot. All vehicles used had fake number plates, pointing to a premeditated attack.
What is the political context of this murder?
The killing occurred two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results, in which BJP won 207 seats and reduced the ruling TMC to 80. The timing and the victim's proximity to CM Adhikari have given the case significant political weight.
