17 Tonnes of Honey, Crores in Gold: Madhya Pradesh Engineer’s Corruption Empire Stuns Investigators

Bhopal became the stage for a dramatic anti-corruption saga as the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta launched a multi-location raid on the properties of retired Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer GP Mehra, unearthing a staggering trove of disproportionate assets that blended opulence with outright eccentricity. What began as a routine probe into financial irregularities ballooned into one of the state's most sensational corruption cases, featuring piles of cash requiring counting machines, gold and silver in lavish quantities, and an inexplicable 17-tonne stockpile of honey at Mehra's farmhouse. Four Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-rank officers spearheaded the operation, transforming a quiet morning into a spectacle that captivated the city.

The raids targeted Mehra's residences in Bhopal's upscale Manish Nagar Colony and a luxury apartment in Opal Regency near Dana Pani Square, yielding immediate revelations of extravagance. At the family home, investigators seized Rs 8.79 lakh in cash, jewellery valued at nearly Rs 50 lakh, and fixed deposits totaling Rs 56 lakh. The apartment, however, proved a veritable treasure chest: Rs 26 lakh in cash, 2.6 kilograms of gold appraised at Rs 3.05 crore, and 5.5 kilograms of silver. These urban hauls painted a picture of unchecked greed, with assets far exceeding any legitimate earnings from Mehra's 35-year PWD tenure, prompting forensic teams to delve into banking records and digital trails for evidence of benami dealings.

The true absurdity unfolded at Mehra's sprawling farmhouse in Saini village, Tehsil Sohagpur, Narmadapuram district, where the Lokayukta teams uncovered an empire of rural splendor. Amidst 17 tonnes of neatly stacked honey—enough to fill a small warehouse—officers documented six tractors, 32 cottages under construction, seven completed ones, a private pond equipped for fish farming, a cowshed, and a personal temple. The site also housed four luxury vehicles registered to the Mehra family: a Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz. This eclectic assortment suggested a lavish, self-sustained retreat, raising questions about the origins of funds fueling such developments during Mehra's retirement.

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Extending the probe to KT Industries in Bhopal's Govindpura Industrial Area—a suspected business front linked to Mehra's relatives—raiders confiscated Rs 1.25 lakh in cash, manufacturing equipment, raw materials, and partnership documents. By day's end, the cumulative seizure included Rs 36.04 lakh in cash, 2.649 kg of gold, 5.523 kg of silver, multiple insurance policies, share certificates, and several properties, with valuations projected to climb into crores. Lokayukta officials emphasized that the inventory was preliminary, with ongoing examinations of seized files poised to unravel a complex web of illicit gains.

This scandal not only exposes systemic vulnerabilities in public infrastructure oversight but also highlights the Lokayukta's resolve in tackling high-profile graft. As Mehra's financial labyrinth is dissected, the case serves as a stark reminder of corruption's grotesque manifestations—from glittering bullion to barrels of honey—demanding swift accountability to restore public trust in Madhya Pradesh's administrative machinery.

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