Kolkata: Five days after the murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, outside his Madhyamgram residence, the Bengal Police arrested three individuals, including an alleged sharpshooter from Uttar Pradesh. The accused's lawyer, however, claimed that CCTV footage showed his client at home on the day of the 50-second ambush.
Arrests Made in Joint Operation
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the killing conducted raids in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before detaining three suspects linked to the shooting. Police identified the accused as Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya, and Raj Singh. Mishra and Maurya were detained from Buxar in Bihar, while Raj Singh was picked up in Uttar Pradesh during a joint operation by the Bengal STF and Ayodhya Police. Sources claimed Raj Singh was suspected to be the sharpshooter involved in the attack.
All three accused were arrested by Madhyamgram police station after interrogation and produced before a Barasat court, which remanded them to police custody until May 24, the CID said in a statement.
Investigation Details
Investigators have not disclosed the exact role of each accused or the alleged masterminds behind the killing, citing ongoing interrogation. During the court hearing, special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee said the accused were tracked through a UPI toll payment made while entering Kolkata via Bally Nivedita Setu. The SIM card linked to the payment belonged to one accused but was used in another person's phone, helping police trace the suspects. Police also sought the addition of BNS Section 238, related to destruction of evidence.
Mobile tower analysis near the crime scene pointed to two phone numbers originating from Uttar Pradesh, leading the SIT to intensify operations there. Bengal STF officials said Raj Singh was detained near the Ayodhya highway, and his criminal antecedents are being verified.
Legal Challenge
Raj Singh's lawyer, Harivant Singh, challenged the police version and alleged illegal detention. Speaking to reporters at Ballia district court, the lawyer claimed that CCTV footage showed Raj Singh at his residence on April 4, 5, and 6, insisting his client had no links to the Kolkata murder case.
The STF also questioned Buxar-based criminal Vishal Srivastava, who faces over 22 criminal cases, but later released him after failing to establish a direct connection with Rath's murder.
