Bhopal:
The Particular Investigation Workforce investigating the homicide of Mukesh Chandrakar, whose physique was present in a septic tank final week, has mentioned the journalist was killed by his cousins who had been enraged by his reportage on corruption in highway building contracts, a few of which concerned them.
Mukesh, an unbiased journalist who additionally contributed to NDTV, practised his craft in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, an space which is notoriously troublesome for reporters.
The 32-year-old journalist was final seen leaving his dwelling in Bijapur’s Pujari Para on New Yr’s Day. His brother, Yukesh, filed a lacking grievance the following day and knowledgeable the police in regards to the final location up to date on the journalist’s cellphone: a shed owned by his cousin and contractor Suresh Chandrakar in Chhatan Para Basti, not very removed from their dwelling.
A be aware by the Particular Investigation Workforce (SIT) mentioned police discovered 17 rooms for staff, which had been locked, and a newly cemented septic tank. Suresh claimed the tank was cemented as a part of renovations, however officers grew suspicious.
Name element data revealed that Mukesh’s final two calls had been from one other cousin Ritesh Chandrakar, who’s Suresh’s brother. CCTV footage revealed that Ritesh was seen on January 2 at Kondagaon toll plaza and later at Raipur airport, boarding a flight to Delhi. This deepened suspicions.
Police then took Dinesh Chandrakar, one other of Mukesh’s cousins and brother of Suresh and Ritesh, into custody from Bijapur hospital. After hours of interrogation, he confessed that Ritesh and one in all their supervisors, Mahendra Ramteke, murdered Mukesh utilizing an iron rod and hid his physique within the septic tank.
On January 3, police uncovered Mukesh’s physique from the septic tank, within the presence of forensics and administrative officers.
Strangled, Stabbed
Mukesh, the SIT be aware mentioned, had uncovered corruption in highway building contracts linked to his cousins, resulting in investigations towards Suresh. This angered Suresh, Ritesh, Dinesh and Mahendra, who hatched a plan to kill the journalist.
On January 1, Mukesh was lured to the shed by Ritesh on the pretext of getting dinner collectively. He was crushed, strangled, and stabbed. The physique was hidden within the septic tank, which was later sealed with cement.
Mukesh’s telephones had been smashed and thrown into the Tumnar River to destroy proof.
Suresh was arrested in Hyderabad on January 5 with the help of the Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh police.
The SIT be aware mentioned instruments like synthetic intelligence and open supply intelligence (OSINT) had been used to analyse digital proof, together with over 100 name data and deleted cell knowledge.
The crime scene was recreated twice to confirm the confessions. Forensic groups additionally recovered important proof, together with the homicide weapon and blood-stained garments.