Key Points:
- Main Accused Arrested: Contractor Suresh Chandrakar apprehended in Hyderabad during a late-night operation by SIT.
- Corruption Link: Mukesh Chandrakar had exposed corruption in a ₹120 crore road project before his murder.
- Brutal Crime: Postmortem revealed 15 head fractures, a broken neck, and the victim’s heart ripped out.
- Ongoing Investigation: Total arrests in the case now stand at four, with more revelations expected.
Hyderabad : In a significant breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the murder of investigative journalist Mukesh Chandrakar arrested the primary accused, contractor Suresh Chandrakar, during a late-night operation in Hyderabad on Monday. Suresh, who had been on the run since the crime came to light, is now in police custody, marking a critical development in the chilling murder case that has sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh.
The arrest of Suresh Chandrakar brings the total number of arrests in the case to four. On Saturday, Chhattisgarh Police apprehended three others, including Suresh’s brother, Ritesh Chandrakar, and a relative, Dinesh Chandrakar. These arrests followed an intensive investigation into Mukesh’s disappearance and subsequent death, which has been tied to his fearless reporting on a ₹120 crore road construction project riddled with alleged corruption.
A Case of Courageous Journalism and Ruthless Crime
Mukesh Chandrakar, renowned for his bold investigative work, had recently unveiled irregularities in a road project spanning from Gangalur to Hiroli in the Bastar region. Originally budgeted at ₹50 crore, the project’s cost ballooned to ₹120 crore without any apparent changes to its scope. Suresh Chandrakar, a contractor linked to the project, emerged as the key suspect following Mukesh’s exposé.
Mukesh went missing on New Year’s Day after reportedly meeting Suresh at the behest of Ritesh, who allegedly facilitated the encounter. His phone went offline soon after, prompting his elder brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, to file a missing person’s report. CCTV footage led investigators to a property owned by Suresh in Chattanpara, where Mukesh’s lifeless body was discovered in a septic tank two days later.
Gruesome Details Emerge from Postmortem
The brutality of the murder shocked even seasoned investigators. The postmortem report revealed 15 fractures to Mukesh’s head, a broken neck, and a heart-wrenching detail his heart was ripped out. The heinous nature of the crime has raised suspicions that Mukesh’s reporting on corruption may have provoked those who stood to lose from his revelations.
SIT Takes Charge, Suresh Finally Nabbed
The SIT, formed to expedite the investigation, traced Suresh Chandrakar to Hyderabad after an extensive manhunt. Reports indicate that police have also frozen three of his bank accounts as part of the probe.
As the investigation progresses, police are scrutinizing possible links between Mukesh’s murder and the individuals implicated in his reporting. The SIT is also working to uncover whether others were involved in orchestrating the crime.
