Chandranath Rath murder: SIT recovers motorcycle, fake plates deepen mystery
Synopsis
The SIT probing the assassination of Suvendu Adhikari's long-time aide Chandranath Rath has recovered the getaway motorcycle — but the investigation has only grown murkier. Both vehicles used in the attack carried fake plates linked to ghost identities, and police sources say the clinical execution style points to a professional, pre-planned hit.
Key Takeaways
Chandranath Rath , personal assistant to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead at Doharia crossing, Madhyamgram at approximately 10.30 pm on Wednesday .
The SIT recovered the getaway motorcycle on Thursday afternoon from an abandoned site nearly 4 km from the crime scene.
Both the motorcycle and the blocking four-wheeler carried fake number plates , confirmed by DGP Rajeev Kumar .
The motorcycle was registered to Bivas Bhattacharya at a Burnpur address — a person police say never existed there.
The four-wheeler's plate belonged to a vehicle owned by William Joseph of Darjeeling district , which remains in his possession.
Police sources say the assailant fired at least 10 rounds from close range, indicating a professional sharpshooter .
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the assassination of Chandranath Rath, long-time personal assistant of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday recovered the motorcycle used in the targeted killing. The recovery, made from an abandoned location nearly four kilometres from the crime scene, has deepened the investigation as authorities grapple with fake registration details on both vehicles used in the attack.
How the Attack Unfolded
Preliminary investigation revealed that Rath was returning home on Wednesday night after attending a BJP programme when his vehicle was tailed by a motorcycle-riding assailant. As his vehicle reached the Doharia crossing at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, a four-wheeler allegedly blocked its path.
Once Rath's vehicle was brought to a halt, the motorcycle rider — wearing a helmet — pulled up alongside and opened fire indiscriminately from close range, killing Rath on the spot. The attack occurred at approximately 10.30 pm on Wednesday. Rath's driver, Buddhadeb Bera, was grievously injured and left bleeding profusely at the scene.
Fake Number Plates and Ghost Identities
West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar confirmed on Wednesday night, within hours of the assassination, that the number plates used on both the motorcycle and the four-wheeler were fake. Subsequent investigation has only compounded the confusion.
According to records of the Motor Vehicles Department, the recovered motorcycle was registered in the name of one Bivas Bhattacharya, whose listed address was a factory quarter in Burnpur, an industrial belt in West Burdwan district. However, police found that no person named Bivas Bhattacharya had ever lived at that address. The current resident, Dharamveer Kumar, reportedly neither owns a motorcycle nor has any knowledge of anyone by that name.
The registration number of the four-wheeler used to block Rath's vehicle was traced to a vehicle of an entirely different make and colour, owned by William Joseph, manager of a local tea garden in the Matigara-Naxalbari area of Darjeeling district in North Bengal. Investigation confirmed that Joseph's vehicle — to which that registration number was originally allotted — remains in his possession, indicating the plate used in the attack was cloned or fabricated.
Signs of a Planned, Professional Hit
A source in the state police told NationPress that the manner in which the assassination was executed strongly suggested the operation had been planned well in advance, with Rath's daily movements reportedly under surveillance for a considerable period prior to the attack.
The source further noted that the assailant's method — stopping precisely beside the target's vehicle, firing at least 10 rounds from close range, and escaping swiftly — pointed to an experienced and professional sharpshooter. The four-wheeler used to intercept Rath's vehicle was traced within hours of the murder; the motorcycle eluded investigators until Thursday afternoon.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
Suvendu Adhikari, citing information provided to him by the police, confirmed the motorcycle's recovery and its distance from the crime scene. The killing of his long-time aide has sent shockwaves through BJP circles in West Bengal, with the party demanding a swift and transparent investigation.
The SIT is now working to establish the true ownership of both vehicles and trace the chain of custody of the cloned number plates. With ghost identities, fabricated registration records, and a professional execution style all pointing to a sophisticated criminal network, investigators face a complex trail ahead.
Point of View
A helmet-clad shooter, at least 10 rounds fired, and a clean escape using vehicles with fabricated plates linked to non-existent identities — reads less like opportunistic political violence and more like a contracted hit. The SIT's immediate challenge is not just finding the shooter but unravelling who commissioned the surveillance and procured the cloned plates. In West Bengal's volatile political landscape, the killing of a senior BJP functionary's closest aide carries a charge that will test both the SIT's independence and the state government's credibility on law and order.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and why was he targeted?
Chandranath Rath was the long-time personal assistant of Suvendu Adhikari, the outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and a senior BJP leader. The motive behind his assassination is still under investigation, though police sources say his movements were under surveillance for a considerable period before the attack.
Where and when was Chandranath Rath killed?
Rath was shot dead at the Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district, at approximately 10.30 pm on Wednesday. He was returning home after attending a BJP programme when his vehicle was intercepted and he was shot at close range.
What did investigators find about the vehicles used in the attack?
Both vehicles carried fake number plates, confirmed by West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar. The motorcycle's registration was linked to a person named Bivas Bhattacharya at a Burnpur address, but no such person was found to have ever lived there. The four-wheeler's plate belonged to a vehicle owned by William Joseph of Darjeeling district, which remains in his possession.
What does the investigation reveal about the nature of the attack?
Police sources say the attack bears hallmarks of a pre-planned, professional operation. Rath's movements were reportedly under surveillance for a considerable period, and the assailant's method — firing at least 10 rounds from close range before escaping immediately — suggests an experienced sharpshooter was involved.
What is the current status of the SIT investigation?
The SIT recovered the motorcycle on Thursday afternoon, roughly 4 km from the crime scene. Investigators are now focused on establishing the true ownership of both vehicles and tracing the origin of the cloned number plates. The probe is ongoing.
