Bhopal businessman Devendra Mehra found dead in uncle's farm pit after 13 days missing
Synopsis
A 13-day missing person search in Bhopal ended with a body in a pit on the victim's own uncle's farm — and a family pointing fingers at three relatives whose phone records place them as the last people to speak with the deceased. What started as a routine missing case now looks like a murder investigation.
Key Takeaways
Devendra Mehra , a 40-year-old handbag retailer from Lambakheda, Bhopal , was found dead on 29 April 2025 after 13 days missing.
His body was discovered in a water-filled pit on a farm owned by his paternal uncle on Dhamarra-Berasia Road .
Digital forensics traced his mobile phone's last signal to the same farm property.
Call Detail Records show his last three calls were with cousins Manoj Mehra , Kaluram , and sister-in-law Mirabai — all of whom reportedly failed to visit the scene after being notified.
Brother Narayan has accused the three of foul play; police have registered a suspicious death case and are interrogating suspects.
The 13-day search for missing Bhopal businessman Devendra Mehra ended in tragedy on Wednesday, 29 April, when his decomposed body was discovered inside a water-filled pit on a farm falling under the Gunga police station jurisdiction. The 40-year-old handbag retailer from Lambakheda had last been seen on 17 April after telling his family he was stepping out briefly to buy chewing tobacco.
How the Body Was Found
According to police officials, a missing person report was filed at Eentkhedi police station shortly after Mehra failed to return home. Investigators relied heavily on digital forensics, tracing the last signals from his mobile phone to a farm on Dhamarra-Berasia Road — a rural property owned by his paternal uncle.
On Wednesday morning, family members searching the property discovered the body in a decomposed state inside a pit. Despite the condition of the remains, identity was confirmed through his clothing, mobile phone, and slippers found at the site. The body was subsequently moved for a post-mortem examination and later handed over to the family for final rites.
Murder Allegations Surface
What began as a missing person case has now shifted to a suspicious death investigation, with the deceased's elder brother Narayan openly accusing three relatives of foul play. According to police, Call Detail Records (CDR) indicate that Mehra's last three phone conversations were with his cousins Manoj Mehra and Kaluram, and a distant sister-in-law named Mirabai.
Narayan told police that although the CDR confirms these calls, Manoj has denied ever speaking to Devendra. The family has also flagged as suspicious the fact that none of the three individuals came to the scene after being informed of the death.
Police Response and Investigation
Authorities have registered a case of suspicious death and are currently interrogating the named suspects to determine the motive and the sequence of events leading to Mehra's death. The post-mortem report is expected to provide critical clarity on the cause of death, given the decomposed state of the body.
Notably, the discovery of the body on land owned by a family member — combined with the CDR evidence and the suspects' alleged non-cooperation — has intensified pressure on investigators to treat this as a potential murder case. The outcome of forensic and interrogation findings will likely determine whether formal murder charges are filed.
Point of View
A body found on a relative's land, and the accused's alleged denial of contact makes this case harder to dismiss as a simple missing-person tragedy. What is striking is the investigative pivot: digital forensics, not physical leads, cracked the location — underlining how mobile data has become central to rural crime investigations in India. The real test now is whether police can convert circumstantial evidence into a charge-sheeted case, or whether the suspicious death label becomes a procedural dead end. Family accusations without forensic corroboration of cause of death leave the investigation at a critical juncture.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Devendra Mehra and why was he reported missing?
Devendra Mehra was a 40-year-old businessman from Lambakheda, Bhopal, who sold ladies handbags in the Kotwali area. He went missing on 17 April after telling his family he was stepping out to buy chewing tobacco and never returned, prompting a missing person report at Eentkhedi police station.
Where was Devendra Mehra's body found?
His body was found in a water-filled pit on a farm on Dhamarra-Berasia Road, within the Gunga police station jurisdiction. The land is reportedly owned by his paternal uncle.
How did police locate the body?
Investigators used digital forensics to trace the last signals from Mehra's mobile phone, which led them to the farm on Dhamarra-Berasia Road. Family members searching the property then discovered the decomposed body in a pit.
Who has been accused in the case?
The deceased's elder brother Narayan has accused cousins Manoj Mehra and Kaluram, and a distant sister-in-law named Mirabai, of foul play. Call Detail Records confirm these three were among the last people to speak with Devendra before his disappearance.
What action has the police taken so far?
Police have registered a case of suspicious death and are interrogating the three named suspects. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and findings are expected to help determine the exact cause of death and whether murder charges will be filed.
