The Bhopal zonal office of the directorate of enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth more than ₹85 crore belonging to two former Madhya Pradesh government officials and their family members in separate money laundering investigations linked to alleged corruption and possession of disproportionate assets.
Case against Former PWD Chief Engineer
According to ED, the investigation against Mr Mehra originates from a first information report (FIR) registered by the special police establishment (SPE) of the Lokayukta in Bhopal under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income.
The agency alleged that during the check period from March 1985 to February 2024, Mr Mehra accumulated assets far exceeding his lawful income while serving in the PWD.
As per the FIR, against lawful income of around ₹4 crore, assets and expenditure exceeding ₹10 crore were identified, resulting in disproportionate assets of approximately ₹6 crore, or nearly 150% above his known sources of income.
Searches conducted by the Lokayukta at premises linked to Mr Mehra and his family allegedly led to the recovery of cash, gold jewellery, silver articles and other valuables. According to ED, cash of ₹8.79 lakh and gold jewellery valued at about ₹3.51 crore were recovered from various locations.
The agency alleged that explanations provided regarding the acquisition of these assets were not supported by credible documentary evidence.
A key focus of the investigation is the alleged development of a luxury property known as Kasturi Krishi Farm in Narmadapuram district.
According to ED, Mr Mehra and his family acquired and developed around 70-72 acres of land in Village Saini, Sohagpur tehsil, into a high-end farm resort featuring cottages, residential units, internal roads, artificial water bodies, agricultural infrastructure and other amenities.
The agency estimated the property's market value at around ₹49.44 crore, including construction and development works worth about ₹16 crore. Investigators alleged that the source of funds used for acquiring and developing the property could not be satisfactorily explained.
The attached assets include residential properties, the farm resort, cash, jewellery, silver articles and other assets identified by the agency as proceeds of crime.
ED said its PMLA investigation identified disproportionate assets worth ₹67.25 crore and that the information has been shared with the Lokayukta under Section 66(2) of the PMLA.
Case against Former District Excise Officer
In the second case, ED attached assets worth about ₹18.20 crore belonging to Mr Bhadauria and his family members.
The money laundering probe stems from an FIR registered by the SPE Lokayukta in Indore under anti-corruption laws.
According to the agency, Mr Bhadauria accumulated assets grossly disproportionate to his known income during the period from 1987 to August 2025.
ED alleged that against lawful income of around ₹2 crore, Mr Bhadauria and his family acquired assets and incurred expenditure worth approximately ₹11.18 crore, resulting in disproportionate assets of about ₹9.18 crore, or nearly 459% of his known lawful income.
Searches conducted at multiple premises and bank lockers linked to the family allegedly resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of cash, gold jewellery, bullion, silver articles and other valuables.
The agency said Mr Bhadauria admitted ownership of the seized cash and jewellery during the investigation but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or documentary evidence regarding their acquisition.
Investigators also identified several high-value movable and immovable assets allegedly acquired during the check period. According to ED, the source of funds used to acquire these assets could not be reconciled with the family's known lawful income.
The attached assets include cash, jewellery, precious metals and immovable properties that the agency has classified as proceeds of crime or equivalent-value assets.
ED said both attachment orders were issued under Section 5(1) of the PMLA to prevent concealment, transfer or disposal of the assets and to facilitate confiscation proceedings under the anti-money laundering law.
Further investigation in both cases is continuing, the agency said.
