Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, May 18: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the alleged shooter in the murder case of Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant, officials said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Rajkumar, was arrested from Muzaffarnagar with assistance from the Uttar Pradesh Police. Officials said the CBI secured his transit remand and he will be produced before a special CBI court in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The victim, Chandranath Rath, considered one of Adhikari’s closest aides, was shot dead on the night of May 6, two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced.

Rath was travelling to Kolkata when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at close range near the Doltala area of Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district.

Following the murder, a Special Investigation Team was initially formed before the case was later handed over to the CBI.

Earlier, three accused — Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya and Raj Singh — had also been arrested in connection with the case. Mishra and Maurya were arrested from Buxar in Bihar, while Singh was held from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.

Soon after the killing, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the All India Trinamool Congress of involvement in the incident. BJP leaders had linked the murder to senior TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee.

However, the TMC denied the allegations and demanded strict action against those responsible for the murder.

Police officials suspect that at least eight persons were involved in the killing. Investigators said the arrested accused were repeatedly changing their statements during questioning.

Officials are probing how the accused obtained precise information regarding Rath’s movements and whether more persons were present at the crime scene.