Chhattisgarh Journo Found Dead Days After Exposing Corruption, Body Fished Out From Contractor's Septic Tank

A journalist from Chhattisgarh, Mukesh Chandrakar, who worked with a local news channel, was found dead on January 3 in Bijapur district.

Mukesh had been missing since the night of January 1, following his investigative report against contractor Suresh Chandrakar, which exposed alleged irregularities in a Rs 120-crore road construction project in Bastar.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/MukeshChandrak9

The expose led to the government launching an enquiry into the contractor's activities, reported India Today.

Mukesh had disappeared after the night of January 1, and his elder brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, filed a missing person report when Mukesh's phone remained switched off after a meeting arranged by Suresh Chandrakar's brother, Ritesh, at one of Suresh's properties. A police investigation was swiftly launched, and a team was set up to trace his whereabouts.

On January 3, Mukesh's body was discovered inside a water tank on the premises of Suresh Chandrakar in the Chattanpara locality, where he had last been seen.

"The victim's brother informed us yesterday that Mukesh had been missing since January 1. We took immediate action, reviewed CCTV footage, and traced his last known location. We found Mukesh's body inside a tank later today," a senior police official said.

As the body was recovered, forensic experts were called to the scene, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are ongoing. Several suspects, including individuals connected to the contractor's circle, are being questioned.

The police have confirmed that Suresh's brother is in custody, while the rest of the family is currently on the run.

Sources indicate that Bastar's contractor lobby is well-known for using influence and alleged payoffs to secure government contracts, often silencing critics through threats or violence. Journalists investigating corruption in the region frequently face harassment and intimidation.

The Bijapur police have confirmed Mukesh's death and assured the public of a thorough investigation.