Indore WCD officer's assets worth ₹9.5 crore unearthed in Lokayukta raid
Synopsis
An Indore WCD Joint Director who joined government service in 1996 and earned an estimated ₹2.5 crore in salary over 29 years has been found with assets reportedly worth ₹9.5 crore — nearly four times that figure. The Lokayukta raid has uncovered a multi-storey building, 13 plots, and multiple financial instruments, with valuations still ongoing and the final tally expected to climb.
Key Takeaways
Lokayukta police raided premises of Laxminarayan Kandwal , Joint Director, WCD Department, Indore , on 10 June .
Assets worth approximately ₹9.5 crore detected — against an estimated lifetime salary of ₹2.5 crore over nearly 30 years of service.
Properties include a 13,500 sq ft multi-storey building, 2 plots in Indore, and 11 plots near the Pithampur industrial area.
A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 .
Valuation is still underway; the total asset figure is expected to increase after full document scrutiny.
Lokayukta police in Indore on Wednesday, 10 June raided multiple premises linked to a senior Women and Child Development (WCD) Department officer and uncovered assets allegedly worth around ₹9.5 crore — nearly four times his estimated lifetime salary. The searches targeted Laxminarayan Kandwal, Joint Director in the WCD Department, following a complaint that he had accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
How the Raids Unfolded
Searches were conducted simultaneously at several locations in Indore and nearby areas linked to Kandwal and his family. Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Rajesh Sahay told reporters that the action followed a preliminary verification of a formal complaint. 'We received a complaint alleging possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income by the officer. After a preliminary verification, a case was registered, and search operations were carried out at premises linked to him,' Sahay said.
Scale of Assets Detected
Kandwal, who joined government service in 1996, is estimated to have earned a total salary of approximately ₹2.5 crore over nearly three decades of service. Against that figure, Lokayukta officials say assets worth around ₹9.5 crore have been identified so far. Among the properties detected are a multi-storey building spanning nearly 13,500 square feet, two plots in Indore city, and 11 plots in villages near the Pithampur industrial area. Documents related to investments, bank accounts, and other financial assets were also recovered during the searches.
Valuation Still Underway
Sahay cautioned that the total figure could rise as the assessment continues. 'Assets worth approximately ₹9.5 crore have been found during the searches conducted so far. The valuation process is continuing, and a detailed assessment of all documents and properties is being carried out,' he said. Lokayukta officials are also examining financial transactions and records tied to properties and business establishments linked to Kandwal's family members to trace the source of funds.
Legal Action and Next Steps
A case has been registered against Kandwal under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Officials said further investigation is underway, and additional details are expected to surface after scrutiny of the seized documents and financial records. This action is part of a broader pattern of Lokayukta crackdowns on government officials in Madhya Pradesh, where disproportionate assets cases have drawn renewed attention in recent months. The outcome of the asset valuation and document scrutiny will determine the scope of charges that follow.
Point of View
Yet assets worth ₹9.5 crore — and counting — have surfaced in a single day of searches. What the Kandwal case underscores is not just individual malfeasance but a systemic gap in how the WCD Department, which administers welfare funds for women and children, monitors the asset declarations of its own senior officers. Lokayukta actions in Madhya Pradesh have been accelerating, but convictions remain slow — the real test of deterrence is whether prosecution follows at the same pace as the raids.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Laxminarayan Kandwal and why was he raided?
Laxminarayan Kandwal is the Joint Director of the Women and Child Development Department in Indore. He was raided by Lokayukta police on 10 June after a complaint alleged he had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income; a case was registered following preliminary verification of that complaint.
What assets were found during the Lokayukta raid in Indore?
Lokayukta officials found assets worth approximately ₹9.5 crore, including a multi-storey building of nearly 13,500 square feet, two plots in Indore city, and 11 plots in villages near the Pithampur industrial area, along with documents related to investments and bank accounts.
How does the asset value compare to the officer's salary?
Kandwal joined government service in 1996 and is estimated to have earned around ₹2.5 crore in salary over nearly 30 years. The ₹9.5 crore in assets detected so far is roughly four times that figure, which forms the basis of the disproportionate assets case.
What law has been invoked against the officer?
A case has been registered against Kandwal under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, which covers possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income by a public servant.
Is the investigation complete?
No. Lokayukta SP Rajesh Sahay confirmed that the valuation process is still ongoing and the total asset figure could increase. Officials are also examining financial transactions linked to Kandwal's family members, and further details are expected after scrutiny of seized documents.
