Mystery, Politics, And The Deaths Linked To Suvendu Adhikari's Inner Circle

Agencies with inputs from NDTV and Times of India, May 8, 2026 : The killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, has once again brought public attention to a troubling pattern of deaths involving people closely associated with him over the past 13 years.

Rath was shot dead in North 24 Parganas, triggering sharp political reactions across West Bengal. BJP leaders have alleged that the incident was politically motivated and have demanded an impartial investigation, while the ruling Trinamool Congress has dismissed these allegations and accused the opposition of attempting to gain political mileage from the tragedy. Police have already launched an investigation into the case.

This is not the first time that an individual from Adhikari’s close circle has died under unusual or controversial circumstances. Over the years, multiple deaths involving his aides and security personnel have repeatedly resurfaced in political discussions, although no investigating agency has publicly established a direct connection among these incidents.

The earliest known case dates back to August 3, 2013, when Pradip Jha, a former personal assistant and political secretary to Suvendu Adhikari during his Trinamool Congress years, was found unconscious on Strand Road in Kolkata. The 42-year-old, a resident of Barasat, had worked closely with several TMC parliamentarians. Initial police findings reportedly found no visible injury marks, while the post-mortem suggested asphyxiation linked to excessive alcohol consumption. However, Jha’s family and associates strongly rejected that explanation, alleging foul play and demanding further investigation. Despite the controversy, no conclusive public findings were ever released.

Another case emerged in 2018 involving Subhabrata Chakraborty, a State Armed Police constable assigned as Adhikari’s personal security officer for more than seven years. Chakraborty was found with a gunshot wound inside a police barrack in Kanthi, Purba Medinipur, directly opposite Adhikari’s residence. Although authorities initially treated the case as suicide, the matter returned to public focus in 2021 after Chakraborty’s wife called for a fresh investigation and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. The West Bengal CID later reopened the case, reconstructed the scene, and questioned several police personnel connected to the original inquiry.

In 2021, another aide, Pulak Lahiri, also died under circumstances that sparked suspicion and political controversy. Widely described as more than just a driver, Lahiri was considered a trusted associate who remained in Adhikari’s inner circle through his transition from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP. During the fiercely contested 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, especially in Nandigram, Lahiri reportedly served as one of Adhikari’s counting agents.

Soon after the elections, Lahiri was found dead in circumstances that quickly became the subject of speculation. Early reports suggested he was found hanging, but his family and several political voices questioned the official narrative and alleged foul play. Claims also circulated that Lahiri may have possessed politically sensitive information, though no publicly verified evidence has confirmed these allegations or established any conspiracy.

Now, in 2026, Chandranath Rath’s killing has intensified these discussions once again. The latest murder has revived old controversies surrounding the deaths of Adhikari’s former aides and security personnel, prompting renewed debate over whether these incidents are isolated tragedies or part of a deeper and more troubling pattern.

Questions continue to dominate public discourse. Was Rath targeted because of political rivalry, personal disputes, financial conflicts, or information he may have known? Are these deaths unrelated coincidences, or do they point toward something more serious?

At present, no investigative authority has publicly proven a criminal link between these separate cases. Yet the repeated deaths of individuals closely connected to one of West Bengal’s most influential opposition leaders have kept the matter alive in political conversations.

As investigations continue, the truth behind Chandranath Rath’s murder—and the larger questions surrounding these recurring controversies—remains unresolved.