Bhopal: In a dramatic turn of events, authorities in Bhopal seized oo an abandoned SUV stacked with 52 kg of gold bars qorth MRP 2259 Onwards worth Rs 40 crore; Rs 11 crore in unaccounted cash was also found.

Discovered early Friday in Mendori, a secluded area known for farmhouses owned by influential figures, the vehicle's contents have sparked one of Madhya Pradesh’s largest-ever crackdowns on illicit wealth. The white Toyota Innova, registered in the name of Chandan Singh Gaur, a Gwalior native and real estate businessman residing in Bhopal for the last four years, was discovered following a tip-off.

The Bhopal Police, alerted to its presence, broke into the vehicle to find seven to eight bags filled with valuables. The discovery coincided with two major raids.

The Income Tax Department targeted aver 50 locations linked ta prominent builders, while the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment (SPE) raided properties tied to Saurabh Sharma, a former transport department constable turned real estate magnate, and his associate, Gaur.

Both are underinvestigation for amassing disproportionate assets. Initial probes revealed Sharma's rise from a “simple government servant” to a property mogul with vast real estate holdings, luxury vehicles, and significant political connections. Voluntarily retiring from his post as constable after allegations of corruption surfaced, Sharma shifted his focus entirely to the real estate sector.