Builder-babu nexus at ground zero of huge gold, cash haul

RECENT income tax department searches have revealed a nexus of builders and influential people, including politicians and officials, that parks unaccounted money in land purchases in villages on the outskirts of MP's Bhopal, officials linked to probe said.

- ANURAAG SINGH @ Bhopal

Mendori village near Bhopal has been in the news since December 20 after the recovery of 52 kg unaccounted gold bullion and ₹11 crore cash from an MUV. The seizures came amid searches at nearly 50 premises of big builders and real estate businessmen.

"Builders have been purchasing land from farmers for developing residential colonies and then selling the land to powerful people of MP and adjoining states," an official privy to the probe told this newspaper on Tuesday.