As per Dainik Bhaskar Exclusive report, A major land investment involving nearly 50 senior bureaucrats from across India has come under scrutiny in Madhya Pradesh after a series of developments dramatically increased the value of the land they purchased.
An investigation into the immovable property returns (IPR) of IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh revealed that a large group of officers jointly bought agricultural land in Guradi Ghat village, located in Bhopal’s Kolar region. The deal included not only officers from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, but also IAS and IPS officers posted in Maharashtra, Telangana, Haryana, and Delhi.
Land Bought on a Single Day
On April 4, 2022, around 2.023 hectares (roughly 5 acres) of agricultural land were registered through a single document. The land was jointly purchased by 50 individuals.
The registry recorded the transaction value at ₹5.5 crore, while the official market valuation was listed at ₹7.78 crore.
According to property disclosures filed by the officers, the purchase was described as an investment by “like-minded officers.” However, documents reviewed during the investigation suggest that behind the 50 ownership shares, there were actually 41 real buyers.
Bypass Approval Triggered Massive Value Jump
Sixteen months after the land purchase, on August 31, 2023, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the ₹3,200 crore Western Bypass project. As per the current alignment, the proposed bypass passes within 500 metres of the land.
Just 10 months later, in June 2024, the land use classification was officially changed from agricultural to residential.
This sequence of events significantly increased the land’s value.
- In 2022, when the land was bought as agricultural property, the rate was approximately ₹81.75 per square foot.
- After the land-use conversion in June 2024, the rate rose to around ₹557 per square foot.
- The estimated value of the 5-acre plot jumped to nearly ₹12.13 crore.
According to current market estimates, land prices in the area are now between ₹2,500 and ₹3,000 per square foot, taking the total value of the property to an estimated ₹55 crore–₹65 crore — nearly 11 times higher than the original purchase value.
