West Bengal: 3 People detained as Bengal CID makes breakthrough in Chandranath Rath Murder Case; no arrests yet

Kolkata: The West Bengal CID has detained three individuals in connection with the murder case of Chandrakant Rath, the PA to Suvendu Adhikari. The CID is currently interrogating the detainees. No arrests have been made in this case so far. The police are currently investigating every angle of the matter.

Talking to the media, Suvendu Adhikari's brother, Divyendu Adhikari said, "We will not let her down. As soon as the new government is formed, due justice will be delivered in this case."

He termed Chandranath's murder a "premeditated conspiracy," noting that Suvendu frequently spent time with him. He remarked that Suvendu might well have been with him yesterday as well. He asserted, "We will take every possible step to ensure that the mother receives justice." Divyendu described Chandranath Rath as an honest and conscientious individual. He noted, "We have known him for a long time. He served in the Indian Air Force for several years, after which he began working with Suvendu. We will not let the matter of his murder rest; we will ensure that his mother receives complete justice."

Meanwhile, the investigation has revealed that the motorcycle used in Chandranath's murder has been traced back to Burnpur in South Asansol. This bike, bearing the registration number WB44D1990, was registered at the RTO office in Paschim Bardhaman. Government records list Vibhash Kumar Bhattacharya as the owner of the bike, with B.B. Bhattacharya recorded as his father. The bike was originally registered on May 4, 2012.

What is the issue?

Following the West Bengal election results, Chandrabhan Rath—the PA to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari—was shot dead in Madhyamgram. Preliminary investigations have revealed that contract killers were hired to carry out the crime. Chandrabhan Rath was counted among Suvendu Adhikari's most loyal aides; he had stood steadfastly by Suvendu's side during the intense electoral battle against Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. However, Chandrabhan Rath is not the only one; over the past 13 years, Suvendu Adhikari has lost four of his loyal associates.

What Hapened to Suvendu Adhikari's Earlier PA Pradeep Jha?

Prior to Chandrabhan Rath, Suvendu Adhikari's PA, Pradeep Jha, died under suspicious circumstances in 2013. At that time, Suvendu Adhikari was a Member of Parliament representing the Trinamool Congress. Pradeep's body was discovered under mysterious circumstances on Strand Road in Kolkata. He had served as a PA to several MPs, including Suvendu Adhikari. Pradeep was a resident of Barasat.

In 2013, Pradeep Jha's body was found lying on a street in Kolkata. At the time, authorities were unable to determine how the body had ended up there. No external signs of injury were found on his body. The post-mortem report indicated that he had suffocated due to excessive alcohol consumption. However, his family maintained that he had been murdered. An investigation into the case was initiated in 2013, but little information is available regarding its final outcome.

What Happened to Suvendu Adhikari's bodyguard?

Meanwhile, in 2018, Suvendu Adhikari's bodyguard, Subhabrata Chakraborty, also met a mysterious end. Subhabrata Chakraborty was a constable with the West Bengal Armed Police Force. He had served as Suvendu Adhikari's bodyguard for seven years. Reports indicate that he was found dead inside the police barracks located in Contai (Kanthi), East Medinipur. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Subhabrata resided in the quarters situated directly across from Adhikari's residence. However, the incident was officially classified as a suicide. Subsequently, in 2020, Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP.

What Happened to Suvendu Adhikari's Driver?

Similarly, in 2021, Pulak Lahiri—who was counted among Suvendu Adhikari's inner circle—also died under suspicious circumstances. Pulak served as both a close aide and a driver to Suvendu. It is said that Pulak was one of his most trusted associates. During the 2021 Assembly elections, Pulak played a pivotal role in Nandigram on Suvendu's behalf.

However, Pulak Lahiri's body was recovered immediately following the elections. At the time, it was reported that his body was found hanging. Following his death, various allegations were leveled. Yet, to this day, it remains unclear exactly how Pulak Lahiri met his end. There was also speculation at the time that Lahiri was on the verge of making certain revelations related to the elections. It is noteworthy that now, his PA, Chandrabhan Rath, has been murdered. Over these past 13 years, Suvendu Adhikari has lost four of his associates. Each time these deaths occurred, they triggered a political uproar.