A routine UPI payment at a toll plaza has provided the investigators a crucial breakthrough in the probe linked to the high-profile murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Suvendu Adhikari. The officials probing the incident have detained three suspects following a trail that began with a UPI transaction and was reinforced by CCTV evidence.

Chandranath Rath, Suvendu Adhikari's close aide and PA

How the cops managed to swoop down on suspects?

The probe in the case took a decisive turn when cops traced a UPI payment made at Bally Toll plaza in Howrah by occupants of a silver car allegedly used to intercept Rath’s vehicle. The transaction enabled the investigating police personnel to a cell phone number linked to one of the suspects, narrowing down the search.

CCTV footage obtained from the toll plaza corroborated the lead further, in which images of the vehicle and its occupants were captured shortly before the crime. Officials said the blend of digital and visual evidence enabled the authorities to reconstruct the movements of the suspects in the hours leading up to the murder.

Three detained from Bihar

Acting on the aforementioned leads, a police team from West Bengal conducted raids in the Buxwar town of Bihar and swooped down on three men. The trio has been detained for questioning, and has been identified as Vishal Srivastava, Mayank Mishra and Vicky Maurya. They are being believed to be linked to criminal networks, although their arrest is yet to be confirmed.

Buxar’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Subham Arya confirmed the trio had been detained, adding that they are being interrogated, but refrained from providing more details.

Car, bikes used in killing bore fake number plates

Investigators said Nath’s assailants abandoned the silver car used to block his vehicle’s way shortly after shooting him dead. They reportedly fled by means of a red car and a bike, adding a layer of complexity to the trail.

The cops later recovered two bikes connected to the crime, one near the spot and another from Barasat, which is 6 kms away from the scene. Officials maintained that all vehicles involved bore forged registration number plates, and their engine numbers as well as chassis numbers had also been tampered with, suggesting a deliberate attempt to evade the law.

SIT constituted, probe picks pace

The probe is currently being spearheaded by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Special Task Force (STF). Authorities said they are pursuing a multi-prolonged probe to establish the entire conspiracy behind the murder.