CBI Probe Intensifies: Notorious Gangster Surrenders, Another Arrested in Suvendu Aide Murder Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has gained significant ground in the ongoing probe into the killing of Chandranath Rath, a close associate of Suvendu Adhikari.

The investigation into the high-profile murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari, reached a turning point this week as federal authorities closed in on suspects across state lines. On Thursday, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, widely known as Mannu, surrendered before a local court in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, after months of evading law enforcement.

Expanding the Net

The breakthrough in the case did not stop with the surrender of the 42-year-old history-sheeter. On the same day, CBI officials successfully apprehended 25-year-old Golu Singh in the same district. According to legal counsel Sanjeev Singh, the agency promptly presented Golu Singh before a Ballia court, securing a 48-hour transit remand to facilitate his transfer to West Bengal for further questioning.

The arrest of Golu Singh brings the total number of individuals named in the investigation to seven. Officials confirmed that the current suspect list comprises five individuals from Uttar Pradesh and two from Bihar, signaling a broad, inter-state criminal network that the CBI is now working to dismantle.

Contrasting Profiles

While the suspects are linked by the same grave allegations, their backgrounds differ significantly. Police records describe Mannu as a seasoned criminal with a history involving approximately 10 cases. Most notably, he faces charges under the stringent Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, a case registered against him in 2023.

In contrast, authorities noted that Golu Singh currently has no prior criminal record. The move to bring Mannu into custody followed the issuance of a non-bailable warrant by the local court, which had been prompted by his failure to appear for mandatory proceedings related to the Gangsters Act.

Legal Next Steps

As of Thursday, the CBI has officially taken custody of Golu Singh for transit, but a formal application seeking the interrogation of Mannu in connection with the murder case is still pending. Following his surrender, the court directed that Mannu be placed into judicial custody.

Amidst the unfolding legal developments, a video circulating on social media has surfaced featuring Mahima Singh, the wife of the accused. In the recording, she asserted her husband's innocence, stating that he turned himself in voluntarily. She maintained that the charges linking him to the Rath murder case are fabricated and expressed her confidence that the ongoing investigation would ultimately clear his name.