BJP Minister's Brother Arrested in Madhya Pradesh Ganja Smuggling Bust Worth Over ₹9 Lakh

Satna: Police in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district have arrested Anil Bagri, the brother of state Urban Development and Housing Minister Pratima Bagri, along with accomplice Pankaj Singh, in connection with an inter-state marijuana smuggling operation.

The bust uncovered approximately 46 kg of ganja, valued at over ₹9.22 lakh, hidden in sacks of paddy at Singh's residence in Marounha village.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from Rampur Baghelan police station raided Pankaj Singh's home on December 8, recovering 48 packets of the contraband concealed under layers of rice. During interrogation, Singh implicated Anil Bagri and another suspect, Shailendra Singh Rajawat, as suppliers. Bagri, who allegedly transported the haul in an SUV on December 4, was apprehended shortly after. Rajawat remains at large, with police suspecting his vehicle was used in the smuggling.

Both Anil Bagri and Pankaj Singh were produced before an NDPS special court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody until December 19.

The arrests mark the second such incident involving Minister Pratima Bagri's relatives in recent weeks; her brother-in-law, Shailendra Singh, was detained by Uttar Pradesh police in Banda on December 3 with 10.5 kg of marijuana.

The development has ignited a political firestorm, with the opposition Congress demanding Pratima Bagri's immediate resignation and accusing the BJP government of shielding drug networks linked to its leaders.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari lambasted the ruling party on social media, stating, "Not criminals, but relatives of BJP leaders are being arrested under BJP rule. Madhya Pradesh has become a hub of drug trafficking in the past 20 years." He urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to relinquish the Home portfolio and launch a high-level probe.

In response, Minister Bagri distanced herself from the accused during a cabinet meeting in Khajuraho on Tuesday, telling reporters, "Anyone can claim to be a relative. The police are doing their job, and criminals—whether relatives or not—cannot be spared." When pressed further, she appeared visibly irritated, retorting, "Why do you people talk about unnecessary things?" (Zabardasti ki baat kyun karte ho tum log?).

Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Premlal Kurve confirmed the seizures and arrests, emphasising that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the broader smuggling racket. "This is a significant breakthrough in curbing inter-state drug trafficking," he said. No official statement has been issued by the BJP leadership as of yet, but the controversy continues to escalate amid protests by Congress workers in Bhopal and other districts.

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