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CBI takes over Suvendu Adhikari aide murder case, forms seven-member SIT
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CBI has taken over the murder investigation of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, forming a seven-member SIT led by a DIG-rank officer.West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari(WB BJP)The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has assumed charge of the murder case of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, constituting a seven-member Special Investigation Team to be led by a DIG-rank officer, as three accused arrested from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were remanded to police custody till May 24.Who Was Chandranath Rath?Chandranath Rath, a former Indian Air Force personnel who served as a close aide to Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead near Madhyamgram on the night of 6 May.Rath was subsequently taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His killing sent shockwaves through West Bengal's political establishment, given his proximity to one of the state's most prominent opposition figures.People also askAI powered insights from this story•5 QUESTIONSChandranath Rath was a former Indian Air Force personnel and a close aide to West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari. His killing near Madhyamgram on May 6th sent shockwaves through the state's political establishment due to his proximity to a prominent opposition figure.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the murder case of Chandranath Rath. They have formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by a DIG-rank officer, to investigate the killing.Police arrested three suspects in connection with Chandranath Rath's murder by tracing digital clues, including a UPI payment made at a toll plaza. This digital trail helped investigators identify a mobile number and establish the identity of one of the suspects, leading to their apprehension in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Suvendu Adhikari described the killing of Chandranath Rath as a premeditated political hit. He alleged that Rath was targeted specifically because of his association with him and his political victory over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.Investigators believe that at least eight people were involved in the conspiracy and execution of Chandranath Rath's murder. The assailants are suspected to have conducted detailed reconnaissance before carrying out the attack.According to ANI report citing people familiar with the developments, the CBI has formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to lead the probe into Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's PA's death, headed by an officer of DIG rank.Three Accused Arrested, Remanded to Police CustodyThree individuals, Mayank Raj Mishra, Vicky Maurya and Raj Singh, have been arrested in connection with the killing and produced before court. Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya were detained from Buxar in Bihar, while Raj Singh was apprehended from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on 10 May based on investigative leads. All three were formally arrested following interrogation on Monday morning.The court has remanded all three to police custody until 24 May, a period of 13 days. Public Prosecutor Advocate Bivas Chatterjee confirmed that the prosecution also sought the addition of charges related to the destruction of evidence, which the court approved."Three persons have been arrested, and the court has sent them to police custody till May 24, i.e., 13 days of police custody. We also sought for the addition of the section relating to the destruction of evidence, which has been added by the court," Chatterjee told reporters.Suvendu Adhikari Calls It a Premeditated Political HitAdhikari has been unequivocal in his assessment of the killing, describing it as a targeted political act. He alleged that Rath was shot because of his association with him and his political victory over former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur."This was a planned operation. A recce was conducted for several days, and the victim was followed before being shot at close range," Adh
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 11 May arrested former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipality recruitment scam in the state, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.The central probe agency took Sujit Bose, 63, into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after his day-long questioning at its CGO Complex office in Salt Lake in Kolkata, the officials said.This was the first major arrest of a TMC leader since the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government took charge of the state's administration last week.People also askAI powered insights from this story•5 QUESTIONSSujit Bose is a former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipality recruitment scam.The alleged scam involves irregularities in the recruitment of various positions at the Dakshin Dum Dum municipality. Sujit Bose is suspected of playing a direct role in providing jobs in exchange for pecuniary benefits, with proceeds of crime traced to flats acquired by him.The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sujit Bose under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after questioning. They are seeking his custody for detailed interrogation regarding the alleged recruitment scam.Sujit Bose is a three-time MLA from Bidhannagar and a former fire services minister. He joined the TMC in 2001 and is considered a TMC heavyweight in Kolkata, known for organizing the Sreebhumi Sporting Club Durga Puja.The money laundering probe stems from a CBI FIR filed on the directions of the Calcutta High Court. The ED had previously raided his premises in October 2025 and his establishments were searched twice last year.Officials said in the PTI report that Bose was "evasive" in his replies, often "inconsistent", and was hence arrested. Bose will be produced before a special PMLA court here today, 12 May, where the ED will seek his custody for detailed interrogation, they said.Bose, the former fire services department minister, was questioned in connection with the recruitment irregularities at the Dakshin Dum Dum municipality, which allegedly served as the venue for one of the biggest civic body recruitment scams in the state, where he previously served as vice chairman.Who is Sujit Bose?A three-time sitting MLA from Bidhannagar, Sujit Bose lost the recent Assembly elections against the BJP's Sharadwat Mukherjee by a margin of more than 37,000 votes.Bose started as a leader of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the CPI(M)’s youth wing. He rose to become a close aide of communist veteran and former minister Subhash Chakraborty. However, by the late 1990s, the two parted ways. Bose joined the TMC in 2001. and contested his first Assembly election against Chakraborty from Belgachia East five years later. Bose lost to his one-time mentor.Chakraborty, however, passed away in 2009. Bose contested the subsequent bypoll against the CPI(M) veteran’s wife Ramala. Bose won and entered the assembly for the first time. He won two subsequent elections and was also appointed minister.Bose, known a TMC heavyweight in Kolkata, was particularly credited for organising one of city’s biggest Durga Pujas at Sreebhumi Sporting Club in the Lake Town area.What is the alleged scam?The civic body scam investigation in Bengal pertains to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of labourers, sweepers, clerks, peons, ambulance attendants, pump operators, helpers, sanitary assistants and drivers, etc, at several municipalities in the state, including South Dum Dum.Bose is suspected to have played a direct role in providing jobs to about 150 employees across various categories in the municipality, recommending them for the positions, in lieu of pecuniary benefits.The agency claimed it has traced "proceeds of crime" in the form of flats acquired
Weather today: The IMD has issued an orange alert for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar, predicting thunderstorm and hail on 12 May. Rajasthan and Gujarat remain under heatwave alerts. IMD forecasted thunderstorm and hail for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar on 12 May and issued an orange alert. (Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar, predicting thunderstorm, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorm on 12 May. Western Disturbance is responsible for the change in weather over northwest India. Meanwhile, Rajasthan and Gujarat continue to grapple with heatwave conditions and are on orange alert for the same.The weather office in its latest press releases said, “Isolated thunderstorms, lightning & gusty winds (40-60 kmph) likely over northwest India” till 15 May, 2026." Furthermore, isolated hailstorm activity is likely in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh on 12 May and in Uttarakhand on 12 and 13 May.For those areas where thunderstorm and hailstorm warning are in place, the residents should follow the below mentioned safety guidelines to avoid unforeseen tragedy:• Stay indoors during thunderstorm and hailstorm activity• Avoid taking shelter under trees or near electric poles• Unplug electrical appliances during lightning• Secure loose outdoor items to prevent wind damage• Avoid unnecessary travel during intense weather conditions• Farmers are advised to move harvested crops to safe placesView full ImageAn orange alert has been issued by IMD for several northern states due to possibility of thunderstorm and hailstorm on 12 May. Meanwhile, Rajasthan and Gujarat continue to face heatwave conditions.Heat wave alert“Heat wave conditions likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Madhya Pradesh” during the coming 3 to 4 days, IMD added.Gradual rise in maximum temperatures is likely in the following regions:Northwest India on 12 May by 2-4°C and thereafter by 4-5°C till 17 May.Central India till 15 May by 2-4°C.In Maharashtra till 15 May by 2-4°C.East India over next 5 days by 2-4°C.Warning about warm night conditions in isolated pockets over Rajasthan till 15 May, the weather office noted, “Heat wave conditions likely to prevail in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan, Gujarat during 12th -17th; East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh during 12th -15th; during 12th -14th, Vidarbha on 14th & 15th, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada on 12th & 13th, Saurashtra & Kutch, Gujarat Region during 12th – 14th May.”Moving to weather forecast for northeast India, IMD predicted, “Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over Assam & Meghalaya during 13th – 17th, Arunachal Pradesh on 17th May with Isolated heavy rainfall over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura during 15th – 17th, Assam & Meghalaya on 12th, Arunachal Pradesh during 13th -16th May.”Residents of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim can expect isolated heavy rainfall during until 14 May. Similar weather conditions are likely in Andaman and Nicobar Islands between 14 and 16 May.With respect to Central India, the Meteorological Department suggested possibility of isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning gusty winds (speed reaching 30-50 kmph) in Chhattisgarh over the next 3 days.Stay updated with the latest Trending, India , World and US news. HomeNewsIndiaWeather today: Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Bihar on IMD's orange alert for thunderstorm and hailstormMore
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