Press Council seeks report from Chhattisgarh govt on Bastar journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder

The Press Council of India (PCI) on Saturday (January 4, 2025) expressed concern over the suspected murder of a journalist in Chhattisgarh and sought a report from the State government.

PCI Chairperson Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai took suo motu cognisance of the death of Mukesh Chandrakar in Bastar and called for a report on facts of the case from the state government, a PCI statement said.

The Press Association and the Editors Guild of India also condemned the killing of the television journalist, and demanded the State government conduct a thorough investigation.

Three persons have been detained in connection with the alleged killing of the 33-year-old. According to the police, the four accused identified so far include brothers Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar and Suresh Chandrakar who are construction contractors and Mahendra Ramteke, who is their employee. Suresh Chandrakar is absconding while the other three have been arrested.

Mr. Chandrakar, a freelance journalist who had highlighted alleged irregularities in road construction, went missing on January 1, and his body was found on Friday in a septic tank on a property owned by Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town, as per police.

SIT set up

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced the setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe the case.

State Deputy CM Arun Sao, who also holds PWD portfolio, said investigation will be carried out into every project executed by Suresh Chandrakar.

Mukesh Chandrakar worked as a freelance journalist for news channel NDTV, and also ran a YouTube channel, ‘Bastar Junction’, which has 1.59 lakh subscribers.

He played a crucial role in the release of CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas from Maoist captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur that killed 22 security personnel.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said Ritesh Chandrakar was arrested from Raipur airport, while Dinesh Chandrakar and Ramteke were held from Bijapur.

“Our probe has revealed Ritesh Chandrakar is a kin of Mukesh Chandrakar and the two used to interact often. On January 1, at 8 p.m., the two spoke on phone and then both went to the compound of Suresh Chandrakar in Chattanpara for dinner. An argument broke out after Ritesh accused the deceased of hindering their construction work,” the IG said.

“Ritesh and Ramteke killed Mukesh with an iron rod, placed the body in the septic tank and shut it. Ritesh then called his elder brother Dinesh, who was in Jagdalpur, and Suresh Chandrakar as well as other kin. Ritesh, Ramteke and Dinesh met at Bodli [a village between Bijapur and Jagdalpur] and conspired to destroy evidence,” the official said.

They went to different places to dispose of the weapon used in the crime and Mukesh Chandrakar’s mobile phone, he said.

“Ritesh told his elder brother Dinesh to cast fresh slab over the septic tank and left for Raipur in the vehicle of his elder brother Suresh Chandrakar. Thereafter, Ritesh left for New Delhi from Raipur on January 2,” he said.

After Mukesh Chandrakar went missing at around 8:30 p.m. on January 1, his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar lodged a complaint with the police the next day.

Kin and media colleagues of Mukesh Chandrakar were spoken to about the disappearance, after which mobile phone tower locations of the suspects were retrieved, the IG said.

“Based on the deceased’s last known location, the premises of contractor Suresh Chandrakar in Chattanpara were inspected on January 2 but nothing was found. On January 3, the newly floored septic tank near the badminton court at Suresh Chandrakar’s premises was examined. We found Mukesh’s body in it,” he said.

“He had injuries on the forehead, back, stomach and chest caused by a hard and blunt object. A case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, disappearance of evidence and other offences. Four teams are trying to nab Suresh Chandrakar,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Congress communication wing chief Sushil Anand Shukla claimed Suresh Chandrakar was inducted into the BJP last year and that there were photos of him with ruling party leaders.

“Suresh Chandrakar visited CM House 10 days ago. CCTV footage of CM House and visitors’ list for the past 15 days must be made public. Why is corruption of Suresh Chandrakar exposed by Mukesh not being discussed? Is it possible to make 90% advance payment in a road contract of ₹120 crore without protection of ministers and people in power,” Mr. Shukla asked.

He sought resignation of Deputy CMs Sharma and Sao apart from ₹1 crore as compensation to Mukesh’s kin.

Earlier in the day, journalists protested at Raipur Press Club.