The CBI has arrested Dharneesh Singh, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Madhya Pradesh-based freelance journalist Chandrika Rai, his wife and two children in 2012. CBI sources said Dharneesh Singh, a contractor based in Shahdol district, was the mastermind of the killings and his fingerprints were recovered from the crime scene.
A CBI spokesperson said the agency had already arrested another accused Ramesh Yadav earlier. The case was handed over to CBI by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in January this year.
Journalist Chandrika Rai, his wife Durga Rai, son Jalaj Rai and daughter Nisha Rai were murdered on the intervening night of February 17-18, 2012. The entire family of the journalist was brutally murdered and the State Police arrested the driver of the deceased and filed a chargesheet against him on May 26, 2012.
Family members of Rai approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the case. The High Court stayed the ongoing trial against the accused and passed order for reinvestigation of the case by CBI.
During his journalistic career, Rai had extensively reported on the illegal mining in the State and had highlighted the role of some politicians in the scam.