The Madhya Pradesh government has rejected the demand of the Congress party for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged killing of a journalist by the mining mafia in the state.

The burnt body of 40-year-old journalist Sandeep Kothari, who was abducted from Katangi tehsil in Balaghat district, was found dumped in Nagpur on Saturday. He was abducted and reportedly set ablaze.

Police have already arrested three people, identified as Rakesh Nasvani, Vishal Dandi and Brijesh Duharwal, in connection with the case.

Reports suggest that the three accused were putting pressure on Kothari to withdraw a case of illegal mining that he had filed against some people in a local court.

Earlier, Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Soni said that Kothari was out on bail for the last two months in a rape case.Police suspect Kothari was kidnapped and murdered because he refused to withdraw the matter.

The journalist was abducted on June 19 night when he was headed towards Umri village with his friend on his bike. His bike was hit by a four-wheeler and its occupants bundled him inside the vehicle and fled before beating up Kothari's friend Rahandle who was riding pillion, the SDOP said.

Police have seized the car used for kidnapping Kothari, he added.