Kolkata, 11 May (H.S.) : A crucial UPI toll payment made at the Bali Nivedita Setu toll plaza played a key role in helping investigators crack the murder case of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath, leading to the arrest of three accused from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police traced the digital payment linked to a silver-coloured Nissan Micra allegedly used during the attack. Investigators used the UPI transaction details, including the linked mobile number and bank account information, to identify the suspects and track their movements across states.

Following the digital trail and CCTV footage collected from the Bali Nivedita Setu toll plaza, police conducted coordinated raids in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and arrested Mayank Sharma, Vicky Maurya and Raj Singh. Officials said at least one of the accused is suspected to be a professional shooter.

Investigators believe the digital payment became the breakthrough that helped reconstruct the movement of the attackers before and after the murder.

Chandranath Rath, a former Indian Air Force personnel and executive assistant to the Chief Minister, was shot dead near Doharia in Madhyamgram on May 6 while returning home from Kolkata.

According to police, the attackers first blocked Rath’s vehicle by positioning the Nissan Micra in front of it before opening fire from close range. The assailants then escaped using two motorcycles.

Police later recovered the abandoned car and both motorcycles used in the crime. Investigators found that all the vehicles carried fake number plates and that the chassis numbers had allegedly been tampered with in an attempt to erase identification marks.

Rath’s driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained serious bullet injuries in the attack and remains under treatment. His statement is expected to provide further details about the incident once his condition improves.

Officials said the successful use of the UPI payment trail and surveillance footage enabled the SIT to swiftly identify and arrest the accused within days of the murder.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh