Suvendu Adhikari’s aide murder case: Eyewitness found Chandranath Rath slouched on SUV seat, another claims handiwork of 'professional killers'
Times of India | 8 May 2026
KOLKATA: A late-night shooting in Madhyamgram, on the outskirts of Kolkata, left Suvendu Adhikari’s aide Chandranath Rath critically injured before he later succumbed to his wounds, with witnesses recalling how he was still breathing moments after the attack but at prolonged gaps.
Investigators are now treating the killing as a premeditated contract-style operation involving multiple attackers, reconnaissance and coordinated movement of vehicles and bikes.
Sushanta Sarkar, a trader and resident of Dehoriya Methopara in Madhyamgram, was among the first on the scene.
Sushanta Sarkar, a trader and resident of Dehoriya Methopara in Madhyamgram, was among the first on the scene.
“I feed strays each night. I was doing the same when I heard some crackling sound, more like firecrackers going off one after another. I thought someone was celebrating BJP’s win or an IPL wicket or milestone. However, moments later, someone came running and shouted that two people had been shot at. Alarmed, I ran towards the Shivoham Gardenia Apartment,” said Sarkar.
He said he reached the spot around 10.10 pm and found a Scorpio SUV blocked on a narrow road by a silver hatchback.
“The windows of both the cars were rolled up,” he said.
Sarkar said he initially heard groans from inside the vehicle but the driver was not opening the windows.
“I assured him that I was a local and that I was there to help,” he recalled.
Once the windows were rolled down, he saw a chilling scene.
“There were two people in the front seat. One was the driver. The other, I later came to know, was Rath. He was slouching on the seat. He was still breathing but at prolonged gaps. A third person was lying flat on the rear seat making no sound (who was later identified as Buddhadeb Bera, the driver)... The thried person (later identified as Mintu) said: “‘Sir ki holo? Keno guli chalalo? (Sir what happened? Why was there firing?)..’”
He added that after the SUV left the spot, he alerted the police.
Another eyewitness, travelling on a bike, described the moment of the attack.
“Just as Rath’s car crossed mine, it suddenly stopped mid-way, and a bike-borne person came and started shooting on the left side of the car. The attacker seemed to be a professional. He fled immediately. The shots were fired at pointblank range. I heard the sound of two rounds of gunshots.”
Police believe at least four people were involved in the killing, which was executed within a 50-second window.
“Professional killers, who had conducted a reconnaissance for at least the past 72 hours, were hired to gun down Suvendu Adhikari’s 38-year-old aide, Chandranath Rath, in Madhyamgram on Wednesday night,” investigators said.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under CID inspector-general Anup Jaiswal, with support from Intelligence Branch, STF and local police.
“We have recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the scene. The motive remains unclear,” said state DGP S N Gupta after visiting the spot.
CCTV footage shows a silver hatchback entering Sheikh Mujib Road around 10 pm, followed by Rath’s SUV eight minutes later. The hatchback allegedly blocked the vehicle before gunmen opened fire.
Within two minutes of the attack, two helmeted men were seen fleeing on a motorcycle.
One bike headed towards the airport, while another took bylanes towards Badu or Rajarhat. The hatchback was later found abandoned near Sahara Bridge, about 4 km away, with fake number plates and erased chassis numbers.
Investigators said the attack involved multiple vehicles and coordinated movement to ensure a clean escape.
Glock pistols, multiple bullets
Officials said eight rounds were fired from Glock 47X semi-automatic pistols. Six bullets hit Rath and his driver Buddhadeb Bera.
Doctors said Rath suffered three gunshot wounds — two to the chest and one to the abdomen — leading to massive blood loss and organ failure.
Bera remains critical, while the third occupant, Mintu, survived after ducking during the firing and is being interrogated.
Adhikari calls it “planned operation”
Calling the killing a “planned operation”, Suvendu Adhikari said Rath was targeted for his political role.
“The Trinamool is irrelevant. Cops are working. I spoke to state director-general of police, SN Gupta. They have leads and some people have been rounded up. I am confident the police will be able to arrest the assailants. The CID, forensic experts and SIT are working and the investigation is heading in the right direction,” he said.
He also alleged that Rath was targeted for his role in his electoral victory over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhowanipore.