Massive Lokayukta raids expose MP’s corruption web:Retired Excise and PWD officers found with ₹28 cr assets; 829% illegal wealth uncovered

Madhya Pradesh saw discussions about two major raids by the Lokayukta last month. The first raid was conducted at the residence of Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria, a retired District Officer of the Excise Department, and the second action took place at the premises of GP Mehra, a retired Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD). In both cases, the Lokayukta uncovered disproportionate assets. While the raid at Bhadauria’s place revealed movable and immovable assets worth 25 crore, Mehra’s house uncovered 3 crore worth of gold, a luxury farmhouse, and a factory. The Lokayukta also revealed that retired Excise officer Dharmendra Bhadauria accumulated 829% disproportionate assets during his 38 years of service. Now the question arises: how did they acquire such immense wealth through corruption? To find an answer to this question, Bhaskar spoke to retired officers from the Excise and PWD departments. They revealed new trends of corruption in both departments. 800% Disproportionate Assets in 38 Years of Service
On October 15, 2025, the Lokayukta police simultaneously raided 8 locations belonging to retired District Excise Officer Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria in Indore, Gwalior, and Ujjain. As the investigation progressed, several shocking revelations came to light. Documents for movable and immovable property worth more than 25 crore rupees were found in Bhadauria’s possession. This was 829% more than his total legitimate income (approximately 2 crore rupees) during his entire service. The investigation also revealed that Bhadauria’s son, Suryansh, partnered with Vishal Panwar in Shiva Chinese Wok and took a 40% stake in the Annapurna and Vijaynagar shops, for which 25 lakh rupees were paid. Fond of expensive cars and super bikes
Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria is also fond of expensive cars. Officials have found a Volvo, a Fortuner, two Innovas, and four luxury bikes from his premises. It is being told that officials have found two expensive super bikes from his flat, which have been modified. Bhadauria has taken the number 0045 for most of his vehicles. A luxurious house worth 10 crore is being built in Indore
During this action, the Lokayukta also came to know about Bhadauria’s luxurious bungalow. This luxurious house, located on plot number C-35 in Malwa County Township, Indore, is being prepared by Indore-based architect company The Design Charrette. It was revealed that Dharmendra Singh Bhadauria’s daughter, Apoorva Singh Bhadauria, is a partner in this company. The Lokayukta found out that he had planned to use foreign goods for the interior of this bungalow and was preparing to spend 4 crore rupees. Bungalow being built with Italian design
Bhadouria had planned to design the bungalow in an Italian style. There was a plan to install a chandelier worth more than 22 lakh rupees in the main hall. Additionally, a home theater was also being built at a cost of 50 lakh rupees. A garden was being prepared on the side of the four-bedroom bungalow, with preparations to install a luxury fountain. According to sources, Bhadouria had planned to import furniture worth about 1.5 crore rupees from China for this luxurious bungalow. 2 kg gold and 5 kg silver were found
On October 9, Lokayukta police raided 4 locations, including the Bhopal residence of former Chief Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD), Govind Prasad (GP) Mehra. During the raid, approximately 8.79 lakh cash, gold and silver jewelry worth 50 lakh, fixed deposit information worth 56 lakh, and other valuable documents were found from the residence in Mannapuram Colony. Additionally, 26 lakh cash, approximately 2.649 kg gold (estimated value 3.05 crore), and 5.523 kg silver (value 5.93 lakh) were recovered from the flat located in Opal Regency (Dana Pani, Bhopal). 17 tons of honey and luxury vehicles from the farmhouse
From the farmhouse located in Saini village (Sohagpur), the Lokayukta team found 17 tons of honey, agricultural land, 6 tractors, 32 under-construction cottages, 7 ready cottages, 2 fish farming centers, 2 cowsheds, and several expensive agricultural equipment. 4 luxury cars (Ford Endeavour, Skoda Slavia, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Ciaz) were found registered in the name of the Mehra family. Now know what is the new trend of corruption in Excise and PWD Excise Department: The Game of Partnership and Smuggling
An officer retired from the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, ‘Earlier, officials only took fixed bribes, but in the last decade, the trend has changed. Now, officials take direct shares in exchange for contracts.’ Former Officer Explained How This Model Works
The retired officer explains that officials take a share in the contractor’s firm in the name of their children or relatives. After this, they provide all kinds of protection to the contractor throughout the year. By flouting rules, open permission is given for liquor sales, illegal transportation, and over-rating. The more the contractor earns, the more the officer’s profit also increases. In this ‘partnership’ model, both benefit, which is why it has become more popular than fixed bribes. ‘Lucrative’ postings for 1 to 1.5 percent
This is the second trend. This system is so organized that the rate for postings in districts is fixed. Officials say that 1 to 1.5 percent of the total value of a liquor contract in a district is the rate for a posting in that district. For example, if the contract for Alirajpur district is worth 300 crore rupees, then 3 crore rupees will have to be paid to sit on the post of District Excise Officer there. Dhar, Alirajpur and other districts of Indore division are considered the most expensive. Commission on every bottle at Gujarat border
The border of Indore division is connected to Gujarat, where there is a liquor ban. Large-scale illegal liquor smuggling to Gujarat takes place from here. Departmental sources say that officials have a fixed share in every truck going to Gujarat. One truck contains about 800 cases, which means approximately 10,000 bottles. A commission of 1 to 3 rupees per bottle is fixed for officials, from junior to senior. Thus, an official receives up to 10 to 20 thousand rupees per truck. Many such trucks cross the border every day, making this illegal earning reach crores. Loot in PWD department, from land acquisition to filling potholes
PWD is one of the most lucrative departments in the state. Here too, the method of taking commissions has changed. According to an official, ‘Earlier, money was taken only in big contracts, but now in every small or big work, the file does not move forward without a transaction.’ Earning by leaking project information
The biggest source of income in PWD is leaking project information. High officials of the department give this information to their close leaders and property dealers even before the announcement of a big project, such as a highway or bypass. This nexus buys lands falling in the project’s path from farmers for a pittance. As soon as the project is officially announced, land prices skyrocket and it is sold for manifold profits. The official has a fixed share in this profit. Western Bypass Project: When the game was exposed, the project was cancelled
The biggest example of this game is the 41-kilometer Western Bypass Project. As soon as this 3000 crore project was approved on August 31, 2023, politicians and officials started buying land nearby. Former minister Deepak Joshi complained directly to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The Shivraj government had approved this project in the cabinet on August 31, 2023, just before the assembly elections. Under this, a four-lane road with a 6-lane structure and two-lane service roads on both sides were to be constructed. The target was set to complete this project by November 2025. After Joshi’s complaint, the matter was investigated, and when this nexus came to light, the government had to cancel the entire project. Commission in blacklisted firms and potholes
Other methods of earning include giving work to blacklisted companies for large sums of money. Additionally, a big scam takes place in the name of filling potholes on roads. Contracts are given to fill hundreds of potholes on paper, but in reality, only 15-20 percent of the work is done. The remaining amount is divided among officials and contractors. Retired officers say that the action taken against Dharmendra Bhadauria and GP Mehra is just a glimpse. Corruption in the state is no longer just personal greed, but has become an organized and well-planned industry, with its own rules, rates, and models. They say that until this entire ecosystem is attacked, new ‘wealth accumulators’ will continue to emerge, even if some are caught.