Suvendu Adhikari’s aide murder case: 3 suspects remanded to police custody after multi-state chase

Kolkata: A local court on Monday remanded three suspects to 13 days of police custody following their arrest in the fatal shooting of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The suspects, identified as Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya, and Raj Singh, were apprehended in connection with a case registered at the Madhyamgram Police Station on May 6. The charges include multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) alongside violations of the Arms Act.

According to a police communiqué, investigators tracked Mishra and Maurya to Buxar, Bihar, while Singh was located in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. All three were detained on May 10 after specific leads surfaced during the inquiry and were formally arrested early Monday morning.

The Incident

Rath, a veteran of the Indian Air Force and a long-time aide to Adhikari, was ambushed and shot late on the night of May 6 near Madhyamgram. Although he was rushed to a nearby medical facility, he eventually passed away from his wounds.

The brazen nature of the attack has sparked intense political friction in the state. Adhikari, who famously defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency, characterised the killing as a "premeditated murder" orchestrated to strike at his inner circle.

"This was a planned operation. A recce was conducted for several days, and the victim was followed before being shot at close range," Adhikari alleged. "No matter how much we condemn the way this murder was carried out, it is not enough. He was killed because he was my aide, and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder."

Calls for Investigation

In the wake of the killing, political factions across the spectrum have demanded transparency in the judicial process. The Trinamool Congress has called for a CBI probe monitored by the court to ensure an unbiased investigation.

Similarly, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee issued a demand on Thursday for an independent inquiry under judicial oversight. The committee emphasised the need for a thorough investigation and the application of rigorous penalties for those found responsible.

Law enforcement officials stated that the investigation remains active as they work to uncover the broader conspiracy behind the shooting.

WIth inputs from ANI