BackLAW
CBI takes over probe in murder of WB CM Suvendu's aide, files FIR
The CBI took over the murder probe of Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, after a state government request, and re-registered the FIR as its own case. The agency says the investigation will be independent and a final report will be filed before a court. Separately, West Bengal Police arrested three suspects from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in connection with the killing, with SIT tracing a UPI transaction at Bally toll plaza and a car linked to the attack.
Why It Matters
A central agency assuming control of a high-profile political murder probe can influence the investigative process and potential legal outcomes, signaling a shift toward independent inquiry.
Timeline
4 Events
Interrogation leads to arrests; charges filed
May 12, 2026
After interrogation, all three were arrested this morning. The suspects are Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya (detained from Buxar, Bihar) and Raj Singh (detained from Ballia). They were charged with murder, possession of illegal arms, criminal conspiracy, and suppression of evidence under various sections of BNS. Police had earlier misidentified Vicky Maurya as Vishal Srivastava and claimed all three had been arrested from Uttar Pradesh.
CBI takes over probe; FIR re-registered
May 12, 2026
The CBI took over the probe following a request from the state government and re-registered the state police FIR as its own case, starting the formal CBI investigation. The agency stated the investigation would be independent, and the final report to a court could be a chargesheet or a closure depending on findings.
Police arrest three suspects from UP and Bihar
May 11, 2026
The West Bengal Police arrested three people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in connection with Rath's killing, pursuing leads from a UPI transaction made at a toll plaza by one of the suspects. The suspects were charged with murder, possession of illegal arms, criminal conspiracy, and suppression of evidence under various sections of BNS.
SIT detains three accused
May 10, 2026
The Special Investigation Team detained three people on Sunday in connection with Rath's killing. Two accused, Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya, were detained from Buxar, Bihar, while the third, Raj Singh, was detained from Ballia on Sunday.