A major crackdown by the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta has exposed the deep-rooted corruption within the state bureaucracy. Raids on the residences of two senior retired officers — Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria, former District Excise Officer, and G.P. Mehra, former Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) — have led to the recovery of ₹8 crore worth of gold, ₹43 crore in assets, and multiple luxury vehicles.
Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria: 38 Years of Service, 829% Disproportionate Assets
On October 15, 2025, the Lokayukta Police conducted simultaneous raids at eight properties owned by Bhadauria in Indore, Gwalior, and Ujjain. Investigations revealed that Bhadauria amassed 829% more wealth than his total legitimate income during his 38-year service.
From his properties, officials seized 4 kg of gold, 7 kg of silver, over ₹2 crore in cash, several Volvo, Fortuner, and Innova cars, and a range of luxury items, including expensive watches, imported perfumes, and high-end furniture worth crores. Documents related to insurance policies, bank lockers, and investments were also found, along with evidence of his children’s investments in film projects.
The investigation further revealed that Bhadauria’s son, Suryansh, held partnerships in the restaurant “Shiva Chinese Walk” and other businesses in Indore, with an investment of ₹25 lakh.
The Italian-Style Mansion and Imported Interiors
Lokayukta officials discovered that Bhadauria was constructing an extravagant mansion worth ₹10 crore in Malwa County Township, Indore, designed by The Design Charrette, an architectural firm in which his daughter, Apoorva Singh Bhadauria, is a partner.
The mansion, styled in Italian architecture, featured plans for a ₹22-lakh chandelier, a ₹50-lakh home theater, and ₹1.5 crore worth of imported furniture from China. Sources said Bhadauria intended to furnish the interiors with imported materials and install luxury fountains and landscaping around the property.
G.P. Mehra: Gold, Honey, and a Life of Lavish Indulgence
On October 9, 2025, the Lokayukta raided four properties belonging to retired PWD Chief Engineer G.P. Mehra in Bhopal and Sohagpur. The raids uncovered 3 kg of gold, 5 kg of silver, ₹36 lakh in cash, and ₹56 lakh in fixed deposits.
From Mehra’s farmhouse in Village Saini (Sohagpur), officials recovered a staggering 17 tonnes of honey, 32 under-construction cottages, 7 completed cottages, 2 fish-breeding centers, 2 cowsheds, and 6 tractors, along with documents for multiple agricultural lands and real estate holdings.
The Lokayukta also confirmed that Mehra’s family owned four luxury cars — a Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz.
The New Face of Bureaucratic Corruption
According to senior Lokayukta sources, both officers exploited their official positions to accumulate assets through indirect channels — not through direct bribery, but via private partnerships, real estate ventures, and layered investments. Officials described this as the “new model of bureaucratic corruption,” where illicit wealth is laundered under the guise of legitimate business dealings.
Questions on Administrative Integrity
The revelations have once again raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in Madhya Pradesh’s bureaucracy. The Lokayukta has indicated that the scope of the investigation will expand, with plans to conduct a forensic audit of the financial networks and business links associated with both officers.
