A fresh political controversy has erupted over the ongoing investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, after Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging “wrongful arrest” of accused Raj Singh in the case.
Sisodia claimed that the arrest reflects a misuse of investigative agencies and accused the BJP of targeting individuals without sufficient evidence. “They can arrest anyone,” Sisodia said, questioning the fairness of the probe and demanding greater accountability in politically sensitive cases. His remarks have added a new layer of political tension between the AAP and BJP at the national level.
The case relates to the May 6 killing of Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district. The incident triggered a major investigation led initially by the state police and later taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Several arrests have been made in connection with the alleged contract killing, which investigators believe was carefully planned and executed by an organised network involving suspects from different states.
Raj Singh, a key accused from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested earlier by investigating agencies. However, his arrest has come under scrutiny after reports that the CBI later informed the court that there were concerns regarding procedural lapses and insufficient evidence at the time of detention. This led to debates over whether Singh was wrongly implicated, with his family also claiming he was being framed and presenting an alibi.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the murder continues to expand, with multiple accused already arrested in the case. The CBI has been probing alleged financial transactions, contract-killing links, and the use of fake identities and vehicles in the execution of the crime. Officials believe the murder was part of a larger conspiracy involving hired shooters.
The BJP has not officially responded in detail to Sisodia’s latest remarks, but the issue has intensified the political blame game around the high-profile case. While opposition leaders accuse the ruling establishment of misusing investigative agencies, government representatives maintain that the probe is being conducted independently and based on evidence.
With investigations still underway, the case has now become both a legal and political flashpoint, drawing sharp reactions from across party lines and keeping public attention firmly fixed on the unfolding developments.
