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The police have arrested three suspects in their involvement in the murder of a 28-year-old journalist from Chhattisgarh, renowned for exposing corruption in high-profile projects.

Mukesh Chandrakar, an investigative journalist, was found dead in a septic tank at a property linked to contractor Suresh Chandrakar, who is at the centre of a Rs 120-crore corruption scandal and remains on the run.

Mukesh, known for his fearless investigative reporting, had recently unearthed discrepancies in the cost escalation of a road project from Gangalur to Hiroli in Bastar.

The project’s budget had ballooned from Rs 50 crore to Rs 120 crore without any changes in scope, leading to a state inquiry and rattling the region’s influential contractor lobby.

The police have arrested three suspects, including Mukesh’s cousin, Ritesh Chandrakar, who allegedly facilitated a meeting between Mukesh and Suresh on 1 January.

Mukesh went missing that night, with his elder brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, filing a missing person’s report.

His body was discovered on 3 January at the Chattanpara property of Suresh, who remains at large.

 

Arrests made

Among those apprehended are Ritesh, another relative, Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra Ramteke, a supervisor.

 

 
Despite their arrests, the prime accused, Suresh, has evaded capture. Four police teams are actively searching for him, with his bank accounts frozen as part of the investigation.

According to investigators, Mukesh and Ritesh shared a cordial relationship, and they often met at the property where the journalist was found.

However, Mukesh’s exposé of the road project reportedly strained ties between them. A post-mortem revealed that Mukesh sustained severe injuries to his head, back, chest, and abdomen, inflicted with a blunt weapon.

Forensic teams have been engaged to gather scientific evidence, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to delve deeper into the case.

#WATCH | Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar murder case | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: Administration seizes the land illegally possessed by one of the accused Suresh Chandrakar pic.twitter.com/OAnUsFSAju

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025

Reactions

The murder has drawn widespread condemnation, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressing outrage. “The news of the murder of Bastar, Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar is shocking. According to reports, Mukesh was brutally murdered after he exposed corruption in his report. I demand from the state government that strict and immediate action should be taken in this case, the culprits should be given severe punishment and proper compensation and job should be considered for the family of the deceased,” she posted on X.

बस्तर, छत्तीसगढ़ के पत्रकार मुकेश चंद्राकर जी की हत्या का समाचार स्तब्ध करने वाला है। खबरों के मुताबिक, मुकेश जी ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में भ्रष्टाचार का खुलासा किया था जिसके बाद उनकी बेरहमी से हत्या कर दी गई।

मेरी राज्य सरकार से मांग है कि इस मामले में सख्त और त्वरित कार्रवाई हो,… pic.twitter.com/I1TwRJXOFW

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) January 4, 2025

Journalists under the aegis of the Raipur Press Club staged protests, demanding swift justice. Bastar’s contractor lobby, notorious for suppressing dissent through intimidation, has come under renewed scrutiny.

Mukesh, a native of Basaguda village in Bijapur, began his journalism career in 2012 and later founded Bastar Junction, a YouTube channel with over 1.59 lakh subscribers.

Known for his fearless reportage on local issues, his untimely demise provides an idea about the perils faced by journalists in volatile regions.

The state government has assured a thorough investigation while the hunt for Suresh Chandrakar continues.