MP industry and investment claims face scrutiny:Survey of 75 factories reveals 32 closed or old, still counted for employment

Dainik Bhaskar team visited eight industrial areas across the MP state, in order to verify the industries that the government claimed were established and operational in the Assembly. A total of 75 factories were inspected on-site. Out of these, 21 were found to be locked, vacant plots, or with incomplete construction. Another 11 units were presented as new investments and job providers, but they have actually been operating for years. In total, 32 factories showed a clear mismatch between official claims and ground reality. In most units, there was no sign of production, workers, or machinery. It is evident that the factories cited in the Assembly for investment and employment either do not exist on the ground or are not operational. Big question: If industries decreased, how did investment rise 61 times? First reply: On 2 December 2025, in response to a question by Dr Chintamani Malviya, the government said that 746 industries were established in the past two years, with an investment of ₹8,016.60 crore and employment for 57,565 people. Second reply: On 25 February 2026, in response to MLA Pankaj Upadhyay, the government informed the Assembly that 724 industries had started in the past two years, with an investment of ₹4,91,488 crore. This indicates a 61-fold increase in investment. Two different claims in the Assembly on investment
2 December 2025: ₹8,000 crore investment in 746 industries
25 February 2026: ₹4.91 lakh crore investment in 724 industries Officials accompany reporters during ground inspection Location: Sach Enterprises, Plot No. 67, K Sector, Mandideep
On Tuesday at 6:37 pm, the Bhaskar team reached the site with officials. A large blue gate bore the name ‘Sach Enterprises’, but it was locked. A printed sheet with ‘Elite Sales Corporation’ and a GST number was pasted over the name. On the officials’ instructions, the gate was opened, revealing installation work of a tile adhesive plant inside. Employees said machines were being set up. Factory closed 8 months ago, shown as operational Babji Industrial, Neemuch: 3 factories, only 1 operational MPIDC Executive Director Pratul Sinha said that all 746 industries mentioned in the Assembly are established. He called it incorrect to label 41% of the 75 inspected units as closed. According to him, only Sach Enterprises in Mandideep and Kusol Industry in Morena have shut down. There is a provision to reallocate plots of closed industries. Claim: ₹28 crore investment, 76 jobs
Reality: One unit operational, two under construction The General Manager initially proposed showing an already operational factory. On insistence, he agreed to the inspection of a unit under construction, but first showed an existing operational unit. He said both units were counted separately, though they are actually an expansion of a company running for four years. When asked why an under-construction unit was marked as established and how 55 jobs were counted, he said a unit is considered established once a shed is erected. Labourers involved in construction were also counted as employed. Location: RMJ Veritable Pvt Ltd, Mandideep
Time: 17 March 2026, 5:26 pm Two plots counted as two units; only one operational According to Assembly records, the company was allotted two plots, 6750 sq m in March 2023 (₹3.06 crore investment) and 7550 sq m in February 2025 (₹3.91 crore investment). Both were listed as established units. However, when Bhaskar reporters visited the second plot, construction was ongoing. Structures for machine installation were being prepared, and two machines were covered in plastic. Workers were building a shed near the front gate. After about five minutes, MPIDC General Manager Rahul Sharma arrived with his team. When asked whether the industry was operational, he replied, “The unit is established; it will take some time to become operational.” Government claims on industry and investment in Madhya Pradesh are raising questions due to contradictions in official responses. Answers given to similar questions in the Assembly at different times show significant discrepancies. Most strikingly, within just three months, the number of industries decreased by 22, but the total investment figure jumped 61 times. This raises a crucial question: which data is accurate?