Overview
- Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram on May 6, and investigators say motorcycle‑borne assailants opened fire at his car while he sat in the front passenger seat.
- The CBI took over the inquiry from West Bengal police, re‑registered the case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita murder, conspiracy and organised‑crime provisions and added Arms Act charges to its FIR.
- In recent days the CBI and UP police arrested suspects including the alleged shooter Rajkumar Singh, Vinay (Pampum) Rai and Ballia resident Naveen Kumar Singh, and produced several accused on transit remand for questioning.
- Authorities recovered multiple firearms, ammunition and the vehicle trail pointing to Ballia, and investigators say one detained suspect has implicated a Ballia figure, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, who remains absconding.
- The probe has corrected an early mistaken arrest after the CBI produced alibi evidence in court, prosecutors have sought extra charges such as destruction of evidence, and forensic tests on seized weapons are ongoing.