BHOPAL: A routine investigation into disproportionate assets has turned into one of Madhya Pradesh’s most astonishing corruption cases, revealing a bizarre mix of luxury, excess, and eccentricity. The state’s Lokayukta anti-corruption unit raided the residences and properties of retired Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer G.P. Mehra on Thursday, unearthing what investigators described as a “palace of hidden wealth.”
What began as a straightforward inquiry into financial irregularities escalated into a full-blown spectacle. Officers discovered mountains of cash, precious metals, real estate holdings, and an unexpected stash—17 tonnes of honey neatly stored in Mehra’s farmhouse. The operation, led by four Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officers, covered multiple locations across Bhopal and Narmadapuram, each yielding increasingly astonishing results.
At Mehra’s upscale home in Manipuram Colony, officials found Rs 8.79 lakh in cash, jewellery worth about Rs 50 lakh, and fixed deposits valued at Rs 56 lakh. The second property, a luxury apartment at Opal Regency near Dana Pani, contained even greater riches: Rs 26 lakh in cash, 2.6 kilograms of gold worth over Rs 3 crore, and 5.5 kilograms of silver. But the real surprise awaited investigators at Mehra’s sprawling farmhouse in the village of Saini, Tehsil Sohagpur, where the lifestyle of a retired officer resembled that of a private estate owner.
The farmhouse featured six tractors, seven completed and 32 under-construction cottages, a personal pond used for fish farming, a cowshed, a temple, and an assortment of luxury vehicles including a Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz—all registered under the Mehra family’s name. The presence of 17 tonnes of honey stacked in neat rows became the talk of the town, symbolizing both the scale and absurdity of the findings.
The raids also extended to KT Industries, a manufacturing unit in Govindpura Industrial Area suspected of serving as Mehra’s business front. Investigators recovered Rs 1.25 lakh in cash, industrial machinery, raw materials, and documents linking his relatives as partners in the company. By the end of the day, the total recoveries included Rs 36.04 lakh in cash, 2.649 kilograms of gold, 5.523 kilograms of silver, four luxury vehicles, and a trove of investment documents, insurance policies, and real estate deeds.
Officials estimate that Mehra’s total assets may run into several crores as forensic and financial teams continue to evaluate the seized materials. The Lokayukta confirmed that digital records and banking trails are being analyzed to trace possible benami transactions. The scale of the discovery has left Madhya Pradesh stunned—an extraordinary story where greed, wealth, and sheer audacity converge into one of the state’s most remarkable corruption scandals.
