Lokayukta raids 3 premises of Dhar cooperative manager over ₹2.41 crore DA case
Synopsis
A cooperative society manager in MP's Dhar district allegedly drew ₹65 lakh in salary over 20 years but amassed assets worth ₹2.41 crore — 271% above his known income. The Lokayukta has raided three locations and registered a Prevention of Corruption Act case, with a suspected benami property still under verification.
Key Takeaways
MP Lokayukta Police raided three premises linked to Sher Singh Thakur in Dhar district on 4 November 2026 .
Thakur's assets and expenditure were estimated at ₹2.41 crore against a total salary of ₹65 lakh over 20 years — allegedly 271.46% more than his legitimate income.
Identified assets include a two-storey house (₹97 lakh), a commercial building (₹20 lakh), agricultural land in wife Kavita Thakur's name (₹50 lakh combined), and vehicles and equipment worth ₹53 lakh .
A case has been registered under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 .
A suspected benami property has emerged; its ownership is under verification.
The operation is led by SP Rajesh Sahay and was ordered by DG Yogesh Deshmukh .
The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, conducted simultaneous searches at three premises linked to Sher Singh Thakur, manager of the Adivasi Jati Seva Cooperative Society in Dhar district, after a preliminary inquiry found he allegedly accumulated assets disproportionate to his legitimate income. The raids were carried out in the Sodpur, Nalchha, and Mandav areas of Dhar.
Scale of Alleged Disproportionate Assets
According to the Lokayukta, Thakur received approximately ₹65 lakh as total salary during his nearly 20 years of service. However, his assets and expenditure over the same period were estimated at ₹2.41 crore — allegedly 271.46% more than his known legitimate income. A disproportionate assets (DA) case has been registered against him under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
Properties and Assets Identified
The preliminary investigation revealed that Thakur allegedly purchased a 0.152-hectare plot in Sodpur village, Nalchha, where a two-storey house spanning approximately 2,400 square feet was constructed — with the combined plot and construction cost estimated at ₹97 lakh. He also allegedly acquired a commercial building of around 1,350 square feet near the Sodpur T-junction on Mandav Road, valued at approximately ₹20 lakh.
Agricultural land was reportedly purchased in the name of his wife, Kavita Thakur — 0.645 hectares in Sodpur village for around ₹8 lakh, and 2.526 hectares in Mandav village for approximately ₹42 lakh. Investigators also identified a JCB machine, a tractor, two cars, a motorcycle, and agricultural equipment collectively estimated at around ₹53 lakh. A further building suspected to be benami property has come to light, with ownership verification currently underway.
Teams Leading the Operation
Three search teams are operating under the supervision of Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Rajesh Sahay. The teams are led by DSP Anand Chauhan and inspectors Ashutosh Mithas, Pratibha Tomar, and Sachin Pateria. The operation was launched on the directions of Lokayukta Director General Yogesh Deshmukh and under the guidance of DIG Manoj Singh.
Investigation Still Underway
SP Rajesh Sahay confirmed that searches and document examination were still ongoing at the time of reporting. The final valuation of all identified properties and the conclusive assessment of disproportionate assets will be determined only after the investigation is complete. This comes amid a broader pattern of Lokayukta actions in Madhya Pradesh targeting public servants and cooperative sector officials allegedly exploiting their positions for personal enrichment over extended service tenures.
Point of View
But convictions remain sparse; whether this case proceeds to prosecution or stalls at the investigation stage will be the real measure of institutional effectiveness.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sher Singh Thakur and why was he raided?
Sher Singh Thakur is the manager of the Adivasi Jati Seva Cooperative Society in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The MP Lokayukta raided his premises on 4 November 2026 after a preliminary inquiry found that his assets and expenditure of ₹2.41 crore were allegedly 271.46% more than his known salary of ₹65 lakh over 20 years of service.
What properties were found during the Lokayukta raid in Dhar?
Investigators identified a two-storey house worth ₹97 lakh, a commercial building valued at ₹20 lakh, agricultural land in his wife Kavita Thakur's name worth approximately ₹50 lakh in total, and vehicles and agricultural equipment estimated at ₹53 lakh. A further suspected benami property is under ownership verification.
Under which law has a case been registered against Sher Singh Thakur?
A disproportionate assets case has been registered against Thakur under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. These sections deal with criminal misconduct by a public servant in accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.
Who is conducting the MP Lokayukta raids in Dhar?
Three teams are conducting the searches under the supervision of Lokayukta SP Rajesh Sahay, led by DSP Anand Chauhan and inspectors Ashutosh Mithas, Pratibha Tomar, and Sachin Pateria. The operation was ordered by Lokayukta DG Yogesh Deshmukh and conducted under the guidance of DIG Manoj Singh.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The searches and document examination were still underway at the time of reporting. The final valuation of all identified properties and the conclusive disproportionate assets figure will be determined after the investigation is complete, according to SP Rajesh Sahay.
