39 cottages, gold, fish pond and 17 tonnes of honey: The bizarre empire of retired Madhya Pradesh PWD engineer

MP PWD Engineer GP Mehra corruption case

In a series of raids that laid bare a staggering scale of alleged corruption, the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta has uncovered a trove of assets, including an astonishing 17 tonnes of honey, from properties linked to a retired senior public works official.

The anti-corruption ombuds launched simultaneous early-morning raids on Thursday at four locations connected to retired Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer GP Mehra, according to an report by NDTV. The operation, led by four Deputy Superintendent of Police-rank officers, targeted Mehra's residences in Bhopal and a farmhouse in Narmadapuram.

What began as an investigation into disproportionate assets swiftly escalated into one of the state's most sensational corruption cases. The scale of the find was so vast that money-counting machines were required to tally the cash discovered.

The initial search of Mehra's primary home in Manipuram Colony yielded Rs 8.79 lakh in cash, jewellery valued at nearly Rs 50 lakh and fixed deposits worth Rs 56 lakh. However, the real spectacle of wealth was found at his second residence, a luxury apartment in the Opal Regency complex. There, officials recovered Rs 26 lakh in cash, 2.6 kilograms of gold worth Rs 3.05 crore and 5.5 kilograms of silver.

Yet, it was the retired engineer's farmhouse in Saini village that revealed an empire of opulence and bizarre holdings. As detailed in the NDTV report, officials stumbled upon a surreal collection of assets. Alongside six tractors, 32 cottages under construction, seven completed cottages and a fleet of luxury cars, they discovered 17 tonnes of honey stored on the premises.

The property also featured a private pond with fish farming facilities, a cowshed and a temple, painting a picture of a self-sufficient and lavish rural retreat. The luxury vehicles, including a Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet and Maruti Ciaz, were all registered in the names of  Mehra's family members.

The Lokayukta's operation extended to KT Industries in the Govindpura Industrial Area, a concern believed to be a business front for the retired engineer. At this location, officers seized equipment, raw materials, Rs 1.25 lakh in cash and documents indicating that Mehra's relatives were partners in the firm.

By the end of the day, the preliminary inventory read like a treasury report: a total of Rs 36.04 lakh in cash, 2.649 kg of gold, 5.523 kg of silver, numerous fixed deposits, insurance policies, share documents, multiple properties and four luxury cars. Officials were cited by NDTV as saying that the final valuation of the seized assets is ongoing and is expected to run into several crores of rupees.

Forensic teams have now been deployed to examine the seized documents and digital records, as investigators work to trace the financial trail for any potential benami, or proxy, investments. The case has sent shockwaves through the state, exposing a labyrinth of wealth far removed from the known income of a public servant.