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2 min readBhopalFeb 14, 2026 07:40 AM IST
“We had issued multiple notices in the past two years to remove these encroachments,” said Tehsildar Sapna Sharma.
A routine traffic dispute in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas erupted into a controversy this week after a local BJP leader was arrested for allegedly obstructing a district judge, police said. Subsequently, properties linked to the accused, which were allegedly built illegally on government land, were demolished.
Pankaj Gharu, a senior member of the BJP’s Dewas unit, was taken into custody on Wednesday, following a heated confrontation with Dewas District and Additional Sessions Judge Prasanna Singh Bahrawat on a congested road near Jai Shri Nagar Colony on Tuesday morning. A second accused, Bhim Gharu, was arrested hours later. A third suspect remains at large.
The incident, a video of which has gone viral, purportedly shows an angry exchange near Green Colony in Dewas, where the judge said he was blocked from proceeding to court by an SUV parked in the middle of the road at around 10.15 am.
According to police, when the judge requested the occupants to move the vehicle, “they shouted at him and prevented the judge from opening his car door”.
Within 24 hours of the judge’s complaint, the district administration deployed bulldozers to raze what officials described as illegal encroachments on government land, including a poultry farm along Maxi Bypass and structures near Gharu’s residence.
“We had issued multiple notices in the past two years to remove these encroachments,” said Tehsildar Sapna Sharma. “Since they did not comply, we had to use force. The structures were illegal and built on government land. Due process was followed.”
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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