Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Murdered for Exposing ₹20 Crore Scam in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, known for his fearless reporting, was brutally murdered after exposing a ₹20 crore road scam. His autopsy suggested extreme torture, with 15 fractures and his heart removed. Contractor Suresh Chandrakar and Mukesh's relatives have been arrested.
Dantewada: Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, 33, was brutally murdered a day after exposing an enormous ₹20 crore road construction scam in Chhattisgarh. Mukesh, known for his fearless reporting, had exposed inflated costs in a project that saw a ₹56 crore road wrongly billed at ₹102 crore. This expose cost him his life.
Mukesh, who freelanced for NDTV and News18 while running his own YouTube channel Bastar Junction, went missing on January 1, 2025. His body was found two days later in a septic tank at a property linked to contractor Suresh Chandrakar, the prime accused.
Brutal Torture Revealed in Autopsy
An autopsy revealed the shocking extent of Mukesh's torture. Medical reports revealed 15 fractures to his skull, a broken neck, and a liver split into four pieces. Shockingly, his heart had been removed, and five ribs were shattered. Doctors conducting the postmortem described it as one of the most brutal cases they had encountered in their careers.
Investigators have said Mukesh was beaten on the head, chest, back and stomach with heavy objects and hence suffered extreme injury. It is through his identifying tattoo on one of his hands that Mukesh's body could be recognized.
Key accused got arrested
Police arrested contractor Suresh Chandrakar in Hyderabad after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. Three others, including Mukesh's cousin Ritesh Chandrakar, have also been detained. Investigators allege that Ritesh and Mahendra Ramteke physically assaulted Mukesh, while Dinesh Chandrakar assisted in disposing of the body.
Mukesh's elder brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, also a journalist, felt that foul play was involved when Mukesh's phone was switched off on January 2. Yukesh stated that Mukesh had planned to meet Suresh the night he disappeared and thus implicated the contractor, considering that Mukesh had recently exposed the road scam.
The case is also reported to have political undertones since Suresh Chandrakar was said to be associated with the Congress and BJP at different times. There has been a massive outcry after the murder as activists, journalists, and the locals condemned the attack.
The Mahar community in Bijapur organized a candlelight march demanding justice and better protection for journalists. Activist RD Jhadi called for strict punishment for the culprits, emphasizing the urgent need for a safe environment for investigative journalists.
A Call for Justice
Mukesh brutal murder, an example of dangers that threaten journalists who challenge corruption and uncontrolled power. The case has attracted the nation's attention: demands for justice and systemic reforms that can safeguard journalists in India. As the thorough investigations continue, the hope still remains that the death of Mukesh will not go in vain but instead becomes a rallying cry for both press freedom and justice.
