StephanieCrowthe at 18:47, 10 December 2025

2025-12-10T18:47:41Z

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{{Short description|Indian journalist (1991–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mukesh Chandrakar
| image = Mukesh Chandrakar.jpeg
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1991|07|04}}
| birth_place = [[Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh]], India
| death_date = {{circa}} {{death date and age|df=y|2025|01|01|1991|07|04}}
| death_place = [[Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh|Bijapur district]], [[Chhattisgarh]], India
| occupation = Investigative journalist
| known_for = Investigative journalism
| relatives = Yukesh Chandrakar (elder brother)
}}

'''Mukesh Chandrakar''' (04 July 1991 – {{circa}} 1 January 2025) was an Indian journalist from the state of [[Chhattisgarh]]. He was murdered after doing an investigative report that exposed irregularities in a road development project.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=6 January 2025 |title=Indian press groups call for investigation after journalist's body found in septic tank |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/06/indian-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-body-found-in-septic-tank-ntwnfb |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mollan |first1=Cherylann |title=Mukesh Chandrakar: Journalist's murder highlights risks of reporting in small-town India |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q0jg4kk27o |work=www.bbc.com |publisher=bbc news}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's murder: accused sent to 14-day judicial custody |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-murder-judicial-custody-9767596/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=8 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharma |first1=Supriya |title=The murder of a journalist and the forgotten Maoist war in Bastar |url=https://scroll.in/article/1077830/the-murder-of-a-journalist-and-the-forgotten-maoist-war-in-bastar |website=Scroll.in |language=en |date=13 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lavish wedding, 17-room bungalow — 'mastermind' in journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's murder rose through ranks, helped by govt contracts |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rise-and-fall-of-suresh-chandrakar-key-accused-in-chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakars-murder-9773890/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=13 January 2025}}</ref>

== 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 [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=6 January 2025 |title=From liquor seller and bike mechanic to a journalist with thriving YouTube channel, Mukesh Chandrakar's story was one of perseverance |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-career-trajectory-youtube-mechanic-9762362/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Mukesh completed his school education from [[Dantewada district|Dantewada.]] Yukesh worked as a [[Freelancer|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, [[Network18 Group|Nework18 Group]] and [[NDTV]]. He also had a [[YouTube]] channel called Bastar Junction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Mayank |date=2025-01-10 |title='Nicknamed JNU, paid the price for exposing truth'. Bijapur journalists remember Mukesh Chandrakar |url=https://theprint.in/india/nicknamed-jnu-paid-the-price-for-exposing-truth-bijapur-journalists-remember-mukesh-chandrakar/2439195/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 January 2025 |title=From liquor seller and bike mechanic to a journalist with thriving YouTube channel, Mukesh Chandrakar's story was one of perseverance |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-career-trajectory-youtube-mechanic-9762362/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, Mukesh was among a group of seven journalists who helped security forces negotiate with Maoists to release a [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action|CoBRA]] gendarme captured in Tekalguda.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Naveen |date=6 January 2025 |title=Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar murder case: Main accused Suresh Chandrakar taken into custody by SIT in Hyderabad. |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-journalist-murder-case-main-accused-suresh-chandrakar-taken-into-custody-by-sit/article69066874.ece |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==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.<ref name=":0" /> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygl0rjy2no |date=3 January 2025 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 January 2025 |title=Chhattisgarh journalist's body found in septic tank, day after brother reported him missing |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-death-9758686/ |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Key Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist's Murder Arrested In Hyderabad |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mukesh-chandrakar-suresh-chandrakar-key-accused-in-chhattisgarhs-journalist-murder-case-arrested-from-hyderabad-7408822 |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref>

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

== Aftermath ==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's Death Taken to Custody |url=https://thewire.in/media/prime-accused-in-chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakars-death-taken-to-custody |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Accused In Chhattisgarh Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's Death Taken to Custody |url=https://thewire.in/media/prime-accused-in-chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakars-death-taken-to-custody |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=The Wire |language=en}}</ref>

Deputy Chief Minister [[Vijay Sharma (politician)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Rishabh |title=Chhattisgarh journalist killed after report on corruption: All we know |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-killed-corruption-contractor-125010500373_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105170640/https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-journalist-mukesh-chandrakar-killed-corruption-contractor-125010500373_1.html |archive-date=5 January 2025 |access-date=6 January 2025 |website=Business Standard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Chhattisgarh CM [[Vishnu Deo Sai]] announced ₹10 lakh aid to the murdered journalist's family on January 14, 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2025-01-14 |title=Chhattisgarh CM announces ₹10 lakh aid to murdered journalist's family |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-cm-announces-10-lakh-aid-to-murdered-journalists-family/article69098627.ece |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On March 18, 2025, A charge sheet was filed against four accused, including a construction contractor, in journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder case in a court in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The charge sheet named contractor Suresh Chandrakar, Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra Ramteke. The accused are charged under sections 103 (murder), 238 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 61 (criminal conspiracy), 250 (Taking gift, etc., to screen an offender from punishment) of the [[Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita]] (BNS).<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2025-03-18 |title=Bastar journalist murder: Charge sheet filed against contractor and three others |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh-journalist-murder-charge-sheet-filed-against-contractor-and-three-others/article69345069.ece |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Corruption in India]]
* [[Freedom of the press in India]]
* [[List of journalists killed in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrakar, Mukesh}}
[[Category:1993 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian investigative journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Journalists from Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:People murdered in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Murdered Indian journalists]]

Mukesh Chandrakar - Revision history

StephanieCrowthe at 18:47, 10 December 2025