Jeff German – Status: Solved
February 9, 2025
Hamzah Al Dahdouh – Status: No Court case Initiated
June 3, 2025
Sandeep Kothari was kidnapped by a group of men while traveling on his motorcycle to his home. His abductors strangled him, placed his body in a car, and set it on fire in neighboring Maharashtra. The brutality of the attack shocked India’s press community, exposing the dangers faced by journalists covering corruption and illegal resource extraction.
Journalist Information:
Name: Sandeep Kothari
Age: 40
Gender: Male
DOB: 1975
Nationality: Indian
Last company worked for: Nai Duniya and Hari Bhoomi newspapers/Freelance journalist
Family: Survived by his mother and brother.
Incident Information:
Date of incident – October 03, 2025
Location of the incident – Maharashtra, India
Offense victim of: Abduction and Murder
Weapons included – Arson and Strangulation
Suspect(s) Information:
Name: Local sand mining operators and their accomplices
Proof of Targeting the Journalist: Police investigations and testimonies from colleagues confirmed that Kothari’s murder was linked to his coverage of illegal sand mining. His reporting had named powerful local figures, leading to sustained intimidation. At the time of his death, he was preparing a new story on the subject. The premeditated abduction and execution-style killing indicated a targeted attack to silence his investigations.
Reason for Killing: Kothari’s persistent exposure of the sand mafia and their political protection threatened a lucrative illegal trade. His murder was seen as an act of retaliation to halt his reporting and send a warning to other journalists in the region.
Progress of the Case: Police arrested three suspects linked to the mining operations within days of the murder. In 2018, a Madhya Pradesh court sentenced two of the accused to life imprisonment while acquitting others for lack of evidence. Press freedom organizations, including CPJ and RSF, have urged authorities to ensure continued protection for journalists reporting on corruption. The case remains a landmark example of impunity and the risks faced by rural reporters in India.
Read More: https://cpj.org/data/people/sandeep-kothari/