The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties valued at approximately Rs 67.25 crore belonging to Govind Prasad Mehra, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department in Madhya Pradesh, and his family members under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
This action stems from an investigation initiated by an FIR filed by the Special Police Establishment (SPE), Lokayukta, Bhopal, under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The case involves Mehra allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure in the Public Works Department, as per the agency’s statement.
Between March 4, 1985, and February 29, 2024, Mehra is reported to have acquired assets significantly surpassing his legitimate earnings. Despite a lawful income of about Rs 4 crore, his total assets and expenditure were found to exceed Rs 10 crore, resulting in disproportionate assets of around Rs 6 crore, approximately 150 per cent more than his known income, the statement revealed.
Searches at locations associated with Mehra and his family led to the discovery of substantial cash, gold jewellery, silver articles, and other valuables. The ED seized cash totaling Rs 8.79 lakh and gold jewellery valued at about Rs 3.51 crore, with explanations for these assets deemed unsubstantiated.
A significant portion of the attached properties includes the Kasturi Krishi Farm, spanning 70–72 acres in Village Saini, Tehsil Sohagpur, District Narmadapuram. This property was transformed into a luxury farm-resort with cottages, residential units, internal roads, artificial water bodies, agricultural infrastructure, and premium amenities.
The market value of the property, along with construction and development works valued at around Rs 16 crore, has been estimated at Rs 49.44 crore. The sources of funds utilized for its acquisition and development remain inadequately explained.
The attached assets comprise residential properties, the opulent Kasturi Krishi Farm, cash, gold jewellery, silver articles, and other valuables identified as proceeds of crime. This attachment is aimed at preventing the concealment, transfer, or disposal of these properties and securing them for potential confiscation under the PMLA.
Relevant information has been shared by the ED with the SPE and the Lokayukta under Section 66(2) of the PMLA. The investigation into the case is ongoing, according to the agency.
