Suvendu aide's murder: Probe hinges on links with UP and UPI

The CBI re-registered the state police FIR as its own case and launched an independent probe. It will submit a report before the competent court and may file a chargesheet against the accused or seek closure of the case. The move follows police reports that three suspects – Mayanak Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya in Bihar’s Buxar, and Raj Singh in UP’s Ballia district – were arrested in connection with the May 6 murder. Investigators traced a UPI transaction allegedly made by the assailants as they crossed Bally toll plaza in Howrah, and a silver car used in the attack was seen crossing the toll plaza shortly before the shooting.

Chandranath Rath, a 41-year-old former Indian Air Force serviceman, was shot dead from close range inside his SUV while returning home in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas. Rath's driver Buddhadeb Bera was injured. Attackers chased Rath's vehicle for about 7 kilometres, forced it to stop, and fired five shots before fleeing in a red car and a motorcycle; a silver car used in the attack was abandoned and two motorcycles were recovered.

The article notes that the murder occurred just two days after the BJP swept to power in West Bengal, ousting the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government after 15 years.

Raj Singh has been identified as the possible sharpshooter, though further investigation is required to establish this.

In Barasat court, the special public prosecutor informed the court that the accused had entered the city through Bally Nivedita Setu and paid the toll using UPI. The court remanded the three suspects to police custody till May 24.

Following interrogation, all three were arrested this morning by Madhyamgram police station.

The three suspects were brought to Kolkata late on Sunday night, after their detentions earlier that day.

Based on specific leads, two suspects—Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya—were detained from Buxar in Bihar, while a third accused, Raj Singh, was detained from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

Chandranath Rath was murdered at Madhyamgram on May 6, 2026, as reported in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Raj Singh's lawyer alleged illegal detention and claimed no proper transit remand had initially been obtained. He was later released after investigators found no direct link to the murder case.

Raj Singh was caught near Ayodhya Highway in a joint operation by Ayodhya Police and Bengal STF; his criminal record is being scrutinised.

Mobile tower data collected at the time of the incident revealed two numbers from Uttar Pradesh; investigators indicated a link to the Ballia shooter Raj and noted UP numbers in the data.

The court was informed by the special public prosecutor that the police moved to add Section 238 (destruction of evidence) to the case.

Following interrogation, all three accused were arrested this morning by Madhyamgram Police and brought to Kolkata. They were produced before Barasat court on May 11, which remanded them to police custody till May 24.

A third accused, Raj Singh, was detained from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.

Based on specific leads, Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya were detained from Buxar in Bihar as part of the investigation into the Madhyamgram murder.

Chandranath Rath was killed on May 6 at Madhyamgram, triggering subsequent investigations that identified multiple suspects and cross-state leads.

The article with the headline about a UPI toll payment leading to suspects tied to Suvendu's PA was published. The visible content consists of three identical reader polls asking which approach is best for investigating complex crimes, listing three options: use of technology and digital tracking; traditional investigative methods; and public involvement and tips.

On May 10, 2026, four days after the incident, police said no arrests had been made, though some men had been detained. They were tracking a UPI payment made by occupants of the Nissan Micra at a toll booth in Bally, near Kolkata. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) travelled to Uttar Pradesh after tracing the number on the car to a Siliguri resident who had advertised the car for sale and was contacted by persons from Uttar Pradesh expressing interest in buying it.

On May 6, 2026, Rath's Mahindra Scorpio was followed and blocked by a silver-coloured Nissan Micra about 200 metres from his home near Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas.