RAIPUR (India CSR): In the heart of Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-affected Bijapur district, the brutal murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar has unraveled a web of corruption that has shaken the state’s administrative and political landscape. On July 30, 2025, the Bijapur police arrested five Public Works Department (PWD) officers implicated in a Rs 73 crore road construction scam along the Gangalur-Mirtur-Nelasnar corridor, a project Chandrakar’s fearless reporting exposed. His lifeless body, discovered in a septic tank on January 3, 2025, after he went missing on New Year’s Day, revealed the deadly cost of truth-telling in a region plagued by corruption and violence. This article delves into the details of the scandal, the arrests, and the broader implications for journalism and governance in India, honoring Chandrakar’s legacy as a beacon of courage.
A Journalist’s Crusade Against Corruption
Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old freelance journalist and founder of the YouTube channel Bastar Junction with over 1.59 lakh subscribers, was a household name in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Born in Basaguda, Bijapur, Chandrakar overcame personal hardships—losing his father at age one and his mother to cancer in 2013—to become a relentless voice for the marginalized. His investigative reports, aired on national outlets like NDTV, tackled sensitive issues, from Naxal violence to systemic corruption. His December 25, 2024, report exposed gross irregularities in the Rs 73 crore Nelasnar-Kodoli-Mirtur-Gangalur road project, initially tendered at Rs 56 crore but inflated to Rs 120 crore without changes in scope, spotlighting shoddy construction and alleged collusion between contractors and PWD officials.
Chandrakar’s exposé, which prompted a state inquiry, made him a target. On January 1, 2025, he was lured to a meeting at a property owned by his cousin, contractor Suresh Chandrakar, in Chattanpara Basti, Bijapur. That night, he was brutally murdered, his body dumped in a septic tank and covered with a fresh concrete slab. The postmortem revealed a horrific assault: 15 skull fractures, a broken neck, five broken ribs, and a punctured heart and liver, indicating a deliberate attempt to silence him. His courage in exposing corruption cost him his life, but it ignited a chain of events leading to significant action against the perpetrators.
The Arrests: Unmasking a Corrupt Nexus
On July 30, 2025, the Bijapur police, under the supervision of Superintendent Dr. Jitendra Yadav, arrested five PWD officers in connection with the road scam linked to Chandrakar’s murder. The arrested officials include two retired Executive Engineers (EEs), one serving EE, one Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and one sub-engineer, all implicated in facilitating substandard work and financial irregularities. The arrests stem from findings by an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional Superintendent Mayank Gurjar, formed to probe both the murder and the underlying corruption.
Earlier, on January 4 and 5, 2025, four individuals were arrested for Chandrakar’s murder: contractor Suresh Chandrakar, his brothers Ritesh and Dinesh Chandrakar, and supervisor Mahendra Ramteke. Suresh, the prime accused, was apprehended in Hyderabad after a manhunt, while Ritesh was arrested at Raipur airport. The SIT’s investigation revealed that Suresh orchestrated the murder, enraged by Chandrakar’s report, which threatened his lucrative contracts. The probe uncovered a conspiracy where Ritesh and Ramteke killed Chandrakar with an iron rod during a staged dinner meeting, later disposing of the weapon and his phone to destroy evidence.
The PWD officers’ arrests mark a significant escalation, exposing systemic corruption within the department. The SIT’s findings, supported by forensic evidence and 100 call data records analyzed with AI tools, confirmed that officials colluded with contractors to inflate project costs and approve substandard work, pocketing illicit gains. The administration has seized three of Suresh’s bank accounts and demolished illegal constructions, including a 17-room property on forest land, signaling a crackdown on the contractor lobby’s influence.
The Gangalur Road Scam: A Rs 73 Crore Fraud
The Nelasnar-Kodoli-Mirtur-Gangalur road project, sanctioned in 2010 for ₹73.08 crore, was intended to improve connectivity in Bijapur’s Naxal-affected region. However, Chandrakar’s investigation revealed that the project’s cost had ballooned to ₹120 crore without justification, with funds siphoned off through inflated tenders and poor-quality construction. His NDTV report highlighted potholed roads and incomplete sections, undermining the project’s purpose of aiding security forces and locals in a Maoist-hit area. The scam’s exposure prompted Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao to order an inquiry on December 25, 2024, intensifying tensions with the contractor lobby.
The SIT’s probe confirmed Chandrakar’s allegations, uncovering a nexus between PWD officials and contractors like Suresh Chandrakar. Substandard materials, unexecuted work billed as complete, and forged documentation were rampant, with officials allegedly receiving kickbacks. The arrested officers face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal conspiracy and corruption, alongside the murder charges against the four initial accused. A 1,200-page charge sheet filed on March 18, 2025, details the evidence, including 72 witness testimonies, ensuring a robust case for prosecution.
A Dangerous Terrain for Journalists
Chandrakar’s murder highlights the perilous environment for journalists in Chhattisgarh, particularly in Bastar, where corruption, Naxalism, and political rivalries create a volatile mix. Known for his role in securing the release of a CoBRA commando from Maoist captivity in 2021, Chandrakar was a respected figure whose Bastar Junction channel fearlessly tackled local issues. His death sparked outrage, with the Raipur Press Club staging protests and the Press Council of India demanding a report from the state government. The Editors Guild of India condemned the killing, calling it a “dark chapter” for journalism and urging better protections for reporters.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that Chandrakar’s murder reflects a broader pattern of violence against journalists covering corruption in India. In 2024, four other Chhattisgarh journalists faced harassment and assault while investigating the sand mafia, underscoring the risks of investigative reporting in conflict zones. The state’s ranking in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index highlights these challenges, with India’s media facing increasing threats and repression.
Political Firestorm: BJP vs. Congress
The case has ignited a political slugfest, with the BJP and Congress trading accusations over Suresh Chandrakar’s affiliations. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, also the Home Minister, alleged that Suresh was a Congress office-bearer, presenting his appointment letter as evidence. Congress leaders, including Bhupesh Baghel, countered that Suresh had joined the BJP, citing photos with party leaders and demanding CCTV footage from the Chief Minister’s residence, which Suresh allegedly visited before the murder. This politicization risks overshadowing the core issue: the need for justice and systemic reform to curb corruption.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai vowed swift action, promising that “culprits will not be spared.” The SIT, under Gurjar’s leadership, aims to file a supplementary charge sheet to include the PWD officers, with a request for a speedy trial to ensure accountability. The administration’s bulldozing of Suresh’s illegal properties and freezing of his assets signal a commitment to dismantling the contractor-official nexus.
The Human Cost: Chandrakar’s Legacy
Mukesh Chandrakar’s life was marked by resilience. Raised by his mother, an anganwadi worker, after his father’s death and displaced by Naxal violence, he pursued journalism inspired by his brother Yukesh. Starting in 2012, he worked with Sahara Samay, Network18, and NDTV, building a reputation for fearless reporting. His Bastar Junction channel gave voice to Bastar’s unheard, covering issues from landmine deaths to corruption. His final report, aired just days before his death, exemplified his commitment to public welfare.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called for severe punishment for the culprits and compensation for Chandrakar’s family, including a job for a family member. The state government has promised support, but the focus remains on ensuring justice. The arrests of the PWD officers and the charge sheet against the four murder accused are steps toward accountability, but the case underscores the urgent need for stronger protections for journalists in India.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Reform
The Mukesh Chandrakar murder case is a grim reminder of the risks faced by journalists who challenge powerful interests. The SIT’s findings and the arrests of PWD officers expose a deep-rooted culture of corruption in Chhattisgarh’s public works, demanding systemic reforms. Strengthening oversight of government contracts, ensuring transparent tender processes, and implementing whistleblower protections are critical to prevent such tragedies. The state’s pledge for a speedy trial and the Press Council’s call for journalist safety measures must translate into concrete action.
Chandrakar’s death is not just a loss for his family but a blow to the pursuit of truth in a region where silence is often enforced through fear. His legacy, however, lives on in the courage of journalists who continue to report from India’s conflict zones. As the nation watches the unfolding case, it serves as a clarion call for justice, accountability, and a safer environment for those who dare to speak truth to power.
(India CSR)
इसे हिंदी में भी पढ़ें: मुकेश चंद्राकर हत्याकांड: छत्तीसगढ़ के 73 करोड़ रुपये सड़क घोटाले में 5 PWD अधिकारी गिरफ्तार
