CBI Steps in to Investigate High-Profile Aide Murder in West Bengal

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken charge of investigating the alleged murder of Chandranath Rath, a key aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. This development follows a formal request by the state government to ensure an impartial inquiry into the high-profile case.

The CBI has assembled a seven-member investigative team led by a DIG from the Special Crime unit in Delhi. This team includes some of the agency's top investigators and collaborates with officers from the CBI's Kolkata zone. The team has already begun examining the crime scene and has re-registered the initial FIR filed by the state police as a CBI case, marking the start of their probe.

Previously, the West Bengal Police had arrested three individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar linked to the murder. The arrest came after tracking a UPI transaction used at a toll plaza by one suspect. The case, clouded by interstate criminal activity and technical surveillance, continues to unfold as authorities seek further evidence.

(With inputs from agencies.)