Chhattisgarh Journalist Murder: Prime Accused Arrested in Hyderabad

Suresh Chandrakar, the main suspect in the murder of Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, was arrested in Hyderabad by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday night. The contractor, who had been on the run since the murder was discovered.

Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old freelance journalist, had been missing since January 1. His body was found on January 3 in a septic tank on land owned by Suresh Chandrakar in Bijapur's Chattanpara Basti. The police initially believed foul play was involved after the journalist's disappearance.

According to the SIT, Suresh Chandrakar's brothers, Ritesh and Dinesh Chandrakar, along with their supervisor, Mahendra Ramteke, have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Authorities suggest the motive for the crime could be linked to a news report filed by NDTV on December 25, which exposed alleged corruption in a road construction project in Bijapur. The project was reportedly connected to Suresh Chandrakar, raising suspicions about his involvement in the journalist's murder.

There has also been political fallout surrounding the case, with Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma, claiming that Suresh Chandrakar was a member of the Congress party. However, the opposition has countered, stating that he had recently joined the ruling BJP.