In a dramatic raid resembling a crime thriller, Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police on Thursday seized gold, cash, luxury vehicles, and even 17 tonnes of honey from properties linked to retired Public Works Department (PWD) engineer-in-chief GP Mehra, who is accused of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.
The raids, conducted in Bhopal and Narmadapuram districts, were supervised by Lokayukta Director General Yogesh Deshmukha. The action followed complaints that Mehra accumulated enormous wealth through corrupt practices during his tenure, officials said.
“Acting on verified information, a case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The raids were carried out after obtaining mandatory approvals,” Bhopal Lokayukta SP D. Rathore told PTI. “Regarding the honey, we are investigating whether he was engaged in its commercial sale.”
Key recoveries from multiple locations include:
- Manipuram Colony residence (Bhopal): ₹8.79 lakh in cash, gold and silver jewellery worth around ₹50 lakh, fixed deposits worth ₹56 lakh, other valuables estimated at ₹60 lakh, and property documents.
- Opal Regency Flat (Bhopal): ₹26 lakh in cash, 2.649 kg of gold (≈₹3.05 crore), 5.523 kg of silver (≈₹5.93 lakh), and property documents.
- KT Industries Factory (Bhopal): Factory equipment, raw materials, finished goods, and ownership papers. The PVC pipe manufacturing unit is reportedly co-owned by Mehra’s son Rohit and Kailash Nayak.
- Saini Village Property (Sohagpur, Narmadapuram): 17 tonnes of honey, six tractors, high-value agricultural machinery, 32 under-construction cottages and seven completed cottages, two fish farms, two cowsheds, two large ponds, a temple, and land documents.
Vehicles recovered include: Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz registered to Mehra and family members. Officials are also examining documents related to fixed deposits, shares, and insurance policies as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Lokayukta has confirmed that the probe is ongoing and further action will be taken based on document verification and financial scrutiny.
