CBI Nabs Key Accused In High-Profile Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Personal Aide From Muzaffarnagar
CBI Nabs Key Accused In High-Profile Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Personal Aide From Muzaffarnagar Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 23:08 IST CBI arrests
CBI Nabs Key Accused In High-Profile Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Personal Aide From Muzaffarnagar Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 23:08 IST CBI arrests Raj Kumar Singh in Muzaffarnagar for the murder of Chandranath Rath, aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, in a suspected contract killing case. CBI arrests Raj Kumar Singh in Muzaffarnagar for the murder of Chandranath Rath, aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, in a suspected contract killing case. (Image: X, AFP) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested Raj Kumar Singh, believed to be a key accused in the murder of Chandranath Rath, close aide and personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, officials said. The arrest was made in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, marking a major development in the high-profile case.
Rath was shot dead near his residence in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on May 6, days after the West Bengal Assembly election results. Investigators suspect the killing was a planned attack involving multiple accused. Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: A key accused in the Chandranath Rath (PA to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari) murder case, Rajkumar Singh of Ballia, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation from Chapar Toll Plaza on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway. pic.twitter.com/M36hxmcDtM— IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026 According to officials, Raj Kumar Singh — also known as Raj Singh — was arrested by a CBI team with assistance from local police in Uttar Pradesh. He is believed to be among the main accused in the murder probe.
The CBI took over the investigation from West Bengal Police following a request from the state government and has constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior officers to probe the case. Earlier, three suspects had been arrested by Bengal Police in connection with the murder. Investigators had alleged involvement of professional shooters and indicated that the operation may have been coordinated from outside West Bengal. Preliminary findings suggested Rath’s movements were tracked before the attack and that the accused fled to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after the killing. Authorities have also explored the possibility of the murder being a contract killing, though the motive remains under investigation. The murder of Rath, considered one of Suvendu Adhikari’s closest associates, sparked political controversy in West Bengal and intensified debate around law and order in the state.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Muzaffarnagar, India, India First Published: May 18, 2026, 23:08 IST News india CBI Nabs Key Accused In High-Profile Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Personal Aide From Muzaffarnagar Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire