Vast Disproportionate Assets, Including 17 Tonnes of Honey, Seized in Raid on Retired MP Official

BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh — A sprawling anti-corruption raid conducted by the Lokayukta police in Madhya Pradesh has unearthed vast disproportionate assets allegedly belonging to a retired government official, causing a significant stir. The multi-location searches, which took place on Thursday at the properties of G.P. Mehra, a former Chief Engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD), led to the discovery of significant quantities of cash, gold, and a highly unusual seizure of 17 tonnes of honey.

Acting on credible information regarding assets amassed beyond his known sources of income, multiple Lokayukta teams, led by officials of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank, conducted simultaneous raids at four locations across Bhopal and Narmadapuram.

At Mehra's primary residence in Bhopal's Manipuram Colony, authorities seized ₹8.79 lakh in cash, jewelry valued at approximately ₹50 lakh, and Fixed Deposit certificates worth ₹56 lakh. A subsequent search at another apartment in the nearby Opal Regency complex yielded an additional ₹26 lakh in cash, 2.6 kilograms of gold worth an estimated ₹3.05 crore, and 5.5 kilograms of silver. Officials reported that currency counting machines were required to tally the seized cash.

However, the most startling discoveries were made at Mehra's farmhouse in Sohagpur, Narmadapuram district. Investigators were stunned to find a stockpile of 17 tonnes of raw honey. The same property also housed a significant real estate development, including 32 under-construction cottages, seven completed cottages, a temple, and a fishpond. Six tractors and a fleet of luxury vehicles—including a Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz—were also found on the premises.

The investigation extended to KT Industries in Govindpura, a firm believed to be a benami (proxy) company for Mehra, where ₹1.25 lakh and several critical documents were confiscated.

In a preliminary statement, a Lokayukta official confirmed that the seizures so far include over ₹36 lakh in cash, 2.6 kg of gold, 5.5 kg of silver, along with numerous fixed deposit receipts, insurance policies, and share documents. The official added that a comprehensive valuation of the total assets is still underway, with the final figure expected to run into many crores of rupees.