Mukesh Chandrakar murder: Suresh Chandrakar arrested, political links emerged

Chhattisgarh: The Special Investigation Team formed by the Bijapur police detained Suresh Chandrakar. "The main accused in Mukesh Chandrakar's murder, Suresh Chandrakar, has been arrested by the SIT from Hyderabad in the early hours of Monday. The interrogation of the accused is currently underway," a statement issued by Bijapur police confirmed.

Earlier, on Saturday, police had arrested Suresh Chandrakar's brother Ritesh Chandrakar, supervisor Mahendra Ramteke, and Dinesh Chandrakar in connection with the murder. A Special Investigation Team led by Bijapur's additional superintendent of police was formed for further investigation into the case.

Mukesh Chandrakar's body found and investigation

The body of 33-year-old Mukesh Chandrakar was found in a sealed septic tank at Suresh Chandrakar's place in Chattan Para on January 3. The journalist was found to have multiple injuries to his head, back, stomach, and chest, inflicted with blunt and hard objects, according to the police. Mukesh's brother Yukesh Chandrakar had lodged a missing complaint with the Kotwali Police Station on January 2, some 24 hours after he last saw his brother.

Political turn and allegations

It acquired a political flavour with Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma pointing out that Suresh Chandrakar is a Congress leader and functionary. Sushil Anand Shukla, the Pradesh Congress Communication department president challenged this fact alleging that Suresh Chandrakar has switched from the Congress only some time ago and had been taken on board by G Venkat the BJP's former district president.

Mukesh Chandrakar was a local journalist who worked with NDTV and other news channels. He also ran a popular YouTube channel, 'Bastar Junction,' which had more than 159,000 subscribers. Chandrakar had played a crucial role in securing the release of CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas from Maoist captivity in April 2021.

It was also said that during this investigation, heated argument breaks out between Mukesh Chandrakar and Ritesh Chandrakar at around 8 PM of 1st January reportedly over alleged interference in Suresh Chandrakar's work.

Possible motive to kill the victim

It has been also told by Deputy CM Vijay Sharma that a recent news report on NDTV criticizing alleged corruption in road construction in Bijapur may be the motive for murder to Mukesh Chandrakar. After the report was aired on December 25, a Public Works Department probe was launched, and political and financial motives were suspected behind the crime.