Chandranath Rath murder: CBI traces vehicle to Jharkhand, number plate swapped in Bengal
Synopsis
The CBI's probe into the assassination of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, has uncovered a cross-state logistics trail: the getaway vehicle was sourced from Jharkhand, driven to Barasat with a fake Siliguri-registered plate, and used to block Rath's car before a shooter fired ten rounds — all two days after a landmark BJP election victory.
Key Takeaways
Chandranath Rath , personal assistant to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead on 6 May at a crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas .
The CBI has found the four-wheeler used in the attack was sourced from Jharkhand and delivered to Barasat .
Arrested suspect Mayank Raj Mishra confessed to swapping the number plate with a fake one registered at the Siliguri RTO .
Mishra allegedly received ₹1,00,000 for the vehicle delivery and was arrested in Buxar .
An assailant on a motorcycle fired ten rounds ; Rath's driver Buddhadeb Bera was critically injured but is recovering.
The murder occurred just two days after BJP won 207 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The four-wheeler used in the 6 May assassination of Chandranath Rath — personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari — was sourced from Jharkhand and driven into North 24 Parganas district with a swapped number plate, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found in its preliminary probe. The vehicle was a key logistical element in what investigators are treating as a pre-planned targeted killing.
How the Vehicle Was Sourced and Disguised
According to investigators, arrested suspect Mayank Raj Mishra confessed that he was contracted by a Jharkhand-based individual to transport the four-wheeler from Jharkhand to Barasat in North 24 Parganas. Upon reaching an abandoned spot near the Barasat rail gate, Mishra allegedly replaced the original number plate with a counterfeit one — the fake plate bearing a registration number originally issued by the regional transport office (RTO) in Siliguri, Darjeeling district.
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, and headed to Buxar, where he was subsequently arrested.
How the Attack Unfolded
Rath was returning home to Madhyamgram from a party programme on the night of 6 May when the attack occurred. According to the initial investigation, the four-wheeler from Jharkhand was used to block Rath's vehicle at a crossing in Madhyamgram. Two motorcycles had reportedly been shadowing Rath's car for an extended period before the ambush.
Once Rath's vehicle was brought to a halt, an assailant on one of the motorcycles pulled up alongside and fired ten rounds at close range. Rath died on the spot. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries but is reportedly recovering.
Political Context and Adhikari's Claim
The murder took place just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared on 4 May, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 Assembly constituencies, reducing the erstwhile ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to 80 seats.
Chief Minister Adhikari has publicly claimed that Rath was targeted because of his association with him — Adhikari having defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, South Kolkata, by a margin of over 15,000 votes. The claim has added a sharp political dimension to what the CBI is investigating as an organised criminal act.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
Three suspects have been arrested so far, with Mishra being one of them. The CBI's cross-state trail — connecting Jharkhand, Siliguri, Barasat, and Buxar — suggests a coordinated network rather than an opportunistic crime. Investigators are now reportedly working to identify the Jharkhand-based contractor who allegedly commissioned the vehicle delivery. The identity and motive of the shooter remain central to the ongoing probe.
Point of View
Siliguri plates, Barasat handover, Buxar arrest — points to a level of operational planning that rules out spontaneity. The ₹1,00,000 delivery fee and a separate, still-unidentified Jharkhand contractor suggest a hired network, not a political flash point turned violent overnight. What the CBI has not yet established publicly is who commissioned the shooter and whether the political timing — two days after a seismic election result — was coincidental or deliberate. Until the Jharkhand contractor and the motorcycle assailant are named, the motive remains officially unconfirmed, even as political actors on both sides have already drawn their conclusions.
NationPress
9 Aug 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 2025 at a crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results. CM Adhikari has claimed Rath was targeted because of his association with him, though the CBI has not officially confirmed a motive.
What has the CBI found about the vehicle used in the Chandranath Rath murder?
The CBI's preliminary investigation found that the four-wheeler used to block Rath's car was sourced from Jharkhand. Suspect Mayank Raj Mishra confessed to driving it to Barasat and replacing its number plate with a fake one bearing a Siliguri RTO registration number.
Who is Mayank Raj Mishra and what is his role in the case?
Mayank Raj Mishra is one of three suspects arrested in connection with the Chandranath Rath murder. According to investigators, he confessed to being paid ₹1,00,000 by a Jharkhand-based individual to transport the vehicle to Barasat. He was arrested in Buxar after travelling there from Howrah Station.
What is the political background to the Chandranath Rath assassination?
Rath was killed just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results on 4 May, in which the BJP won 207 seats and the TMC was reduced to 80. CM Adhikari has alleged the killing was politically motivated, linked to his own defeat of former CM Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes.
What is the current status of the CBI investigation?
Three suspects have been arrested so far. The CBI is working to identify the Jharkhand-based contractor who allegedly arranged the vehicle delivery, and is separately pursuing the identity of the shooter who fired ten rounds at Rath. The investigation spans multiple states including West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
