Kolkata, 22 May (H.S.): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another accused in the murder case of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Friday.
The arrested person has been identified as Naveen Kumar Singh (35), a resident of Thamhanpura village under Fefana police station area in Ballia district.
According to officials, the CBI carried out a joint operation with the Uttar Pradesh Police following specific inputs regarding his alleged role in the killing of Chandranath Rath.
Chandranath Rath was shot dead on May 6 in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, triggering political tension in the state.
Investigators suspect that weapons recovered from Naveen Kumar Singh may have been used in the murder. The seized arms have been sent for forensic examination to verify their link to the crime.
Meanwhile, the CBI has moved a court in West Bengal seeking relief for another accused, Raj Singh, who was earlier arrested by a state Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Ballia. The agency later arrested the “real” Raj Kumar Singh alias Raj Singh from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
Officials said Uttar Pradesh STF conducted raids in Ballia on May 19, during which a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the accused’s possession.
An FIR was registered under the Arms Act following the recovery. During interrogation, Naveen allegedly revealed that he was contacted by accused Gyanendra Pratap Singh alias Mannu, along with Raj Kumar Singh and Goloo Singh.
He further claimed that Mannu handed him a bag containing weapons, which was later recovered from a car showroom along a national highway. The recovery included pistols, revolvers, live cartridges, and a mobile phone. One of the pistols is reportedly of foreign origin.
The police said Raj Kumar Singh has already been arrested, while Mannu and Goloo Singh are still absconding.
Following his arrest, Naveen Kumar Singh was produced before a local court in Ballia and sent to judicial custody in Mau jail.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
