Mukesh Chandrakar

Mukesh Chandrakar (04 July 1991 – c. 1 January 2025) was an Indian journalist from the state of Chhattisgarh. He was allegedly murdered for exposing corruption in a road development project.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Mukesh Chandrakar
Born	(1991-07-04)4 July 1991 Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, India
Died	c. 1 January 2025(2025-01-01) (aged 33) Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, India
Occupation	Investigative journalist
Known for	Investigative journalism
Relatives	Yukesh Chandrakar (elder brother)

Early life

Mukesh Chandrakar was born in Basaguda in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. His father Chenna Chandrakar died when Mukesh was just 1 year old and his mother Kaushalya Chandrakar, was an anganwadi worker. His family was displaced by the naxal violence and moved to a government shelter in Bijapur. After his father died, he and his elder brother Yukesh were brought up by their mother. In 2013, she died of cancer.^[6] Mukesh completed his school education from Dantewada. Yukesh worked as a freelance journalist which inspired him to take up the role himself.

Career as journalist

During his career, Chandrakar worked for several news channels like Sahara Samay, Nework18 Group and NDTV. He also had a YouTube channel called Bastar Junction.^[7][8] In 2021, Mukesh was among a group of seven journalists who helped security forces negotiate with Maoists to release a CoBRA gendarme captured in Tekalguda.^[6][9]

Murder and investigation

Mukesh did a report that came out in NDTV on 25 December 2024 highlighting the poor condition of a road in Bijapur, after which the government initiated an inquiry. The contractor for this road was Mukesh’s cousin Suresh Chandrakar.^[6] Mukesh was last seen on the evening of 1 January. His elder brother Yukesh filed a missing person report with the police the following day. Based on mobile tracking, police located Mukesh’s body inside a septic tank on the property of contractor Suresh Chandrakar in Chattanpara Basti on 3 January under mysterious circumstances in Bastar district.^[10][11] According to a post-mortem report, Chandrakar was attacked with a heavy object and suffered severe injuries to his head, chest, back, and stomach. His body was identified through a tattoo on his hand.^[12]

The state government formed an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by an IPS officer.

Three persons, including two of Chandrakar's relatives, have been arrested in the case. While his cousin, Ritesh Chandrakar, was arrested from Raipur airport, Mahendra Ramteke, a supervisor, and Dinesh Chandrakar, another relative of the victim, were taken into custody from Bijapur.

Reactions

The Press Association and the Editors Guild of India condemned the incident and urged the Chhattisgarh government to take steps to protect journalists, particularly those involved in field reporting and investigative journalism.^[13]

Editors Guild released a letter stating it was a matter of grave concern. "The young journalist's death is a matter of grave concern as it raises suspicion of foul play," the letter read.^[14]

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, also the state’s home minister, alleged that the main accused, Suresh Chandrakar, is affiliated with the Indian National Congress and questioned the party's links to recent criminal cases. Congress, however, countered with claims that Suresh was inducted into the Bharatiya Janata Party recently, and demanded that Sharma release the CCTV footage from Chandrakar's visit to Sharma's CM residence days before the murder.^[15]

See also

• Corruption in India
• Freedom of the press in India
• List of journalists killed in India

References

1. Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (6 January 2025). "Indian press groups call for investigation after journalist's body found in septic tank". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
2. Mollan, Cherylann. "Mukesh Chandrakar: Journalist's murder highlights risks of reporting in small-town India". www.bbc.com. bbc news.
3. "Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's murder: accused sent to 14-day judicial custody". The Indian Express. 8 January 2025.
4. Sharma, Supriya (13 January 2025). "The murder of a journalist and the forgotten Maoist war in Bastar". Scroll.in.
5. "Lavish wedding, 17-room bungalow — 'mastermind' in journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's murder rose through ranks, helped by govt contracts". The Indian Express. 13 January 2025.
6. "From liquor seller and bike mechanic to a journalist with thriving YouTube channel, Mukesh Chandrakar's story was one of perseverance". The Indian Express. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
7. Kumar, Mayank (10 January 2025). "'Nicknamed JNU, paid the price for exposing truth'. Bijapur journalists remember Mukesh Chandrakar". ThePrint. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
8. "From liquor seller and bike mechanic to a journalist with thriving YouTube channel, Mukesh Chandrakar's story was one of perseverance". The Indian Express. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
9. Kumar, Naveen (6 January 2025). "Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar murder case: Main accused Suresh Chandrakar taken into custody by SIT in Hyderabad". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
10. "Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank". BBC. 3 January 2025.
11. "Chhattisgarh journalist's body found in septic tank, day after brother reported him missing". The Indian Express. 5 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
12. "Key Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist's Murder Arrested In Hyderabad". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
13. "Prime Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's Death Taken to Custody". The Wire. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
14. "Prime Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's Death Taken to Custody". The Wire. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
15. Sharma, Rishabh. "Chhattisgarh journalist killed after report on corruption: All we know". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 5 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.