UPI payment leads police to killers of Suvendu Adhikari’s aide, 3 arrested
Three men have been arrested in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, after police tracked a UPI payment made during the accused persons’ escape route.
The arrests were made in a joint operation conducted by the police teams of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The accused have been identified as Vishal Srivastava, Raj Singh and Mayank Mishra.
According to investigators, the breakthrough came after the suspects used UPI to pay at a toll booth in Bally near Kolkata while fleeing after the murder. CCTV footage and transaction details helped police trace the vehicle and identify the accused.
Police said Chandranath Rath was shot dead at point-blank range on Wednesday night while he was returning home in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district. He was seated in the front passenger seat of his Mahindra Scorpio SUV when attackers intercepted the vehicle.
Investigators said a silver Nissan Micra blocked Rath’s SUV before bike-borne assailants opened fire. The attackers later abandoned the Micra and escaped using another vehicle and motorcycles.
The police have so far recovered two motorcycles and seized the Nissan Micra allegedly used in the crime. Preliminary findings suggest that the vehicles were stolen and the Micra carried a fake and tampered registration plate.
Officials described the arrested men as professional killers. Vishal Srivastava, reportedly from Bihar’s Buxar district, is said to have more than 15 criminal cases registered against him, including murder and robbery charges. The other two accused are from Uttar Pradesh.
The accused are expected to be produced before a court in Barasat.
Reacting to the incident, Suvendu Adhikari termed the killing a “pre-planned” and “cold-blooded murder.” He alleged that Rath was targeted because of his political association and claimed the attackers had conducted surveillance before carrying out the crime.
Rath’s family members have also demanded strict action against those responsible for the murder as the investigation continues.
