Bijapur, 04 January: The Police has arrested three accused in the murder case of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar. An 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter thoroughly.
Bastar IG Sundarraj P. told presser today that three accused in the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar have been arrested. He said that the case has been handed over to an 11-member SIT for a complete investigation of the murder.
Bastar IG said that an 11-member SIT team has been formed under the leadership of Mayank Gurjar, Additional Superintendent of Police, Bijapur for further investigation of crime number 1/2025 registered in Kotwali police station of Bijapur district in the case of murder of journalist late Mukesh Chandrakar. To arrest the absconding accused contractor Suresh Chandrakar, 4 separate police teams have been sent to surround his possible locations.
Bastar IG said that Mukesh Chandrakar’s elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar informed the Bijapur Police Station at 7.30 pm on January 2 about his disappearance from his house since 8.30 pm on January 1. On this, a First Information Report (FIR) was immediately lodged at Bijapur Police Station and investigation was started. On receiving information about the disappearance of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, father late Chenna Chandrakar, age 32 years, resident of Basaguda, presently Pujaripara Bijapur, by the Superintendent of Police, Bijapur, 3 teams were immediately formed under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Yulandon York, including Inspector Durgesh Sharma, Police Station Incharge of Bijapur Police Station and other officers and investigation was done. After the body of deceased Mukesh Chandrakar was recovered from the septic tank at the crime scene in Suresh Chandrakar’s compound, three accused Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar and Mahendra Ramteke were arrested by the police and further interrogation is being done with them.
Bastar IG Sundarraj P. further apprised that no accused involved in the murder of journalist late Mukesh Chandrakar will be spared. The SIT team formed for the investigation will investigate on the basis of scientific and technical evidence and will present the charge report for prosecution in the court as soon as possible.
Giving details about the entire case, he said that during the investigation, journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s relatives and media colleagues have been questioned regarding Mukesh Chandrakar’s disappearance. Also, CDR and location of the persons under suspicion have been taken. On the basis of the last location of the deceased, all the rooms of contractor Suresh Chandrakar’s compound located in Chattan Para were opened and investigated on the night of January 2 itself. According to the information obtained through technical evidence and interrogation, search was done at different places.
He told that on January 3, every possible effort was made to trace Mukesh Chandrakar safely. Sensing the possibility of something untoward, senior officials were informed about the situation after seeing the newly floored septic tank in the badminton court in Suresh Chandrakar’s bara. At around 2:30 in the afternoon, in the presence of Tehsildar and FSL team, the new flooring place was broken with the help of JCB and the lid of the tank was opened from the old structure. On opening the lid of the septic tank, a dead body of a man was seen in the tank. The body was identified as missing person journalist Mukesh Chandrakar from the tattoo made on one of his hands. During the body ‘panchnama’ by the forensic team, it was found prima facie that the deceased was hit with a hard and solid weapon on his head, back, stomach and chest.
He told that after the body ‘panchnama’, post-mortem proceedings were done on January 4. In this case, crime number 01/2025 has been registered in Bijapur police station under sections 103, 238, 61, 3(5) of BNS and investigation has been taken up. During this, on January 3, a team formed to catch the suspect involved in the incident was sent to Raipur. The suspect of the incident, Ritesh Chandrakar, was caught from Raipur airport and other suspects Mahendra Ramteke (supervisor) and Dinesh Chandrakar have been caught from Bijapur. Action is being taken to recover the tools used in the incident by interrogating the accused of the incident, Ritesh Chandrakar, Mahendra Ramteke (supervisor) and Dinesh Chandrakar.
IG informed that to catch the main accused contractor Suresh Chandrakar of the incident, different teams are being formed and a siege is being laid. In the interrogation and investigation so far, it has come to light that journalist late Mukesh Chandrakar and Ritesh Chandrakar were brothers. They used to talk to each other about family and social issues.
Bastar IG told that on the night of January 1 at around 8 pm, there was a conversation on mobile between deceased late Mukesh Chandrakar and accused Ritesh Chandrakar. Thereafter, deceased late Mukesh Chandrakar and Ritesh Chandrakar reached the shed of contractor Suresh Chandrakar located at Chattan Para of Bijapur and started having dinner. During this time, there was an argument over the accused Ritesh Chandrakar obstructing our work instead of helping us despite having a family relationship with deceased late Mukesh Chandrakar. During this, accused Ritesh Chandrakar, in a planned manner, along with his supervisor Mahendra Ramteke present in the shed, attacked Mukesh Chandrakar’s head, chest, stomach and back with an iron rod. Mukesh Chandrakar died on the spot due to the attack by both the accused. After death, with the purpose of disposing of his body, the body was thrown in a nearby shelter.
Bastar IG continued informing that the accused Ritesh Chandrakar put the tick in the tank and closed it with the slab lid. Thereafter, the accused Ritesh Chandrakar contacted his elder brother Dinesh Chandrakar who was present in Jagdalpur with his elder brother Suresh Chandrakar and other family members and informed him about the incident and left for Bodli. During this time, Dinesh Chandrakar immediately left Jagdalpur and reached Bodli. Ritesh Chandrakar, Mahendra Ramteke and Dinesh Chandrakar met in Bodli and a conspiracy was hatched to destroy the evidence related to the incident.
IG Sundarraj P. stated that the accused Ritesh Chandrakar, Mahendra Ramteke and Dinesh Chandrakar went to different places to dispose of the weapon used and the mobile of the deceased. Thereafter, Ritesh Chandrakar told his elder brother Dinesh Chandrakar that he had to plaster the septic tank and left for Raipur in the vehicle of his elder brother contractor Suresh Chandrakar. Thereafter Ritesh Chandrakar left for New Delhi from Raipur on the evening of January 2. On the morning of January 2, Dinesh Chandrakar got the cement flooring of the septic tank (where Mukesh Chandrakar’s body was hidden after the murder) done afresh at the crime scene in Suresh Chandrakar’s compound in Chattan Para.
