West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Claims ‘Nephew-Gang’ Behind Former Aide Chandranath Rath’s Murder

September 15, 2026

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday alleged that the “nephew-gang” was behind the murder of his former Personal Assistant, Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram in May this year.

Although Adhikari did not directly name anyone, his reference to the “nephew-gang” was seen as an indirect reference to Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Adhikari made the allegations on the day Chandranath Rath’s mother, Hasirani Rath, filed her nomination as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Nandigram Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. The constituency is scheduled to go to polls on October 6.

Adhikari Claims ₹2 Crore Contract Killers Hired

Adhikari claimed that he had received specific information indicating that the “nephew-gang” was behind Chandranath Rath’s murder.

He alleged that contract killers were hired for ₹2 crore to carry out the assassination and claimed to have heard multiple call recordings that, according to him, showed the alleged conspiracy behind the murder.

The Chief Minister also said Chandranath Rath, a retired Indian Air Force serviceman, was targeted because he had served as Adhikari’s principal aide when Adhikari was the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

Chandranath Rath Shot Dead In Madhyamgram

Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on the evening of May 6 this year, two days after the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were declared, which marked a major defeat for the Trinamool Congress.

Rath was reportedly on his way back home when he was shot at from point-blank range.

The West Bengal Police initially investigated the murder before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe.

Seven Arrested, Mystery Over Conspiracy Continues

So far, seven people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in Chandranath Rath’s murder.

However, there remains uncertainty over who was behind the killing. Adhikari’s latest allegations have added a political dimension to the case, but the claims concerning the alleged conspiracy and the involvement of the “nephew-gang” remain allegations and have not been established through the investigation.