January 2026

In a significant operation against illegal cash movement, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district seized Rs 4 crore in unaccounted money believed to be linked to a hawala network operating between the state and Maharashtra. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a special team from the Moti Nagar police station set up a checkpoint near the Rahatgarh bypass late on Tuesday night. When officers attempted to stop a suspected vehicle around 11 p.m., the occupants tried to flee but were intercepted after a brief chase. During inspection, officials found bundles of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes concealed beneath the rear seats and in hidden compartments. Initial inquiries suggest the cash was being transported from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra through underground hawala channels, according to police sources. The two men in the vehicle, a driver from Nagpur and a passenger from Indore, were detained after they failed to produce any documents to justify the cash, in violation of Income Tax and RBI rules on large cash movement. “The seized amount is clearly the proceeds of hawala transactions. Both the accused and the cash have been handed over to the Income Tax Department for further action,” a senior official said. Income Tax teams from Sagar and Jabalpur have begun tracing the money trail, with investigators examining whether the funds might be linked to a wider network. Sources said the counting of the notes was completed under videography at the Moti Nagar police station before the Income Tax Department was informed. Investigators are analysing mobile phones recovered from the arrested duo to identify potential links to larger operators. Police have not ruled out the possibility of the money being tied to other illegal activities, although no such connection has been established so far. More raids are expected based on emerging leads. This marks the second major hawala cash seizure in Madhya Pradesh in recent weeks, reflecting intensified surveillance by state police and central agencies during the election period. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act and the IPC as the probe continues.

A new twist has come up in the case of a 46-year-old woman’s assault in the Motinagar area of Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.On Thursday night, two videos related to the incident surfaced and are now making the rounds on social media.The videos show a woman running without clothes and a young man in a semi-naked state running in different directions.These clips are being linked to the assault case, though NDTV hasn’t verified them yet.With these videos out, the Sagar police have started a detailed investigation into the matter. The complaint was filed on January 12. On January 12, 2026, the victim filed a complaint at the Motinagar police station. The woman alleged that the accused barged into her house late at night and raped her. Police have started investigation into the incident after registering a case on the basis of the complaint. The accused was found hanging from a tree. Meanwhile, the police received information that the body of the accused was found hanging from a tree near a field in a village under Bandri police station area. Police have registered a case in this regard at the Bandhugaon police station. On Friday, the family members of the accused staged a protest by placing the body on the Motinagar square. The family of the deceased has alleged that a false case of rape was lodged against him, due to which he committed suicide due to mental trauma. What’s in the viral video? A mobile phone and a CCTV footage have been recovered from the spot. In the CCTV footage, a woman is seen running out of a house in the nude, while a youth running behind her in a semi-naked state with shoes in his hand is seen running in the other direction. In the second video, the woman is seen walking naked on the road. It is being told that this video has been recorded by a bike rider. Statement by police: According to ASP Lokesh Kumar Sinha, a case of rape was registered on the complaint of the woman and a search was on for the accused. Meanwhile, the accused allegedly committed suicide. Police said that during initial investigation, they found that the woman was raped. The veracity of the viral video and its link to the incident is also being investigated. Police said the matter is being investigated and everything will be clear after the probe is over.

In January 2026, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a significant expansion of road infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh, approving approximately ₹4,500 crore worth of road works for 50 different corridors and links across the state. These projects are part of a broader push by the Central Government to boost connectivity, reduce travel times, and strengthen economic infrastructure under the One-Time Improvement Plan — a special scheme to upgrade roads in priority regions. The Centre has also indicated that this ₹4,500 crore allotment could be increased further based on additional needs and assessments from the state government. 📌 Overall Scope and Funding The ₹4,500 crore earmarked for these 50 projects is intended to complement larger flagship initiatives — including the ₹16,000 crore Kota–Vidisha–Sagar Greenfield Expressway and other major corridors approved for Madhya Pradesh as part of an ambitious road expansion policy that totals over ₹1 lakh crore in approvals in recent announcements. Although official listings of all 50 individual project names and route details have not been published in full by central or state authorities, the announcement reflects a multi-layered strategy to upgrade both pass-through highways and feeder roads linking smaller towns, agricultural hubs, industrial areas, and major cities such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar, Vidisha, Rahatgarh, and Biaora. 🛣️ Focus Areas of the 50 Projects The 50 road projects are broadly expected to include: These projects are tailored to complement national corridors such as the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Bhopal–Kanpur Economic Corridor, and other greenfield highways already under progress in the state. 🚀 Economic and Social Impacts 🧭 Integration with National Road Development These approvals are aligned with the Government of India’s long-term goals under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, a nationwide highway and expressway program to improve freight movement and regional integration across states.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the Kota-Vidisha-Sagar Greenfield Expressway linking Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.This ambitious project will cost around 16 thousand crore rupees.Additionally, he has greenlit new projects worth 1 lakh crore rupees for Madhya Pradesh. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the construction of the Kota–Vidisha–Sagar Greenfield Expressway, a major interstate infrastructure project aimed at strengthening road connectivity between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The proposed expressway is estimated to cost around ₹16,000 crore and is expected to significantly reduce travel distance and time between the key cities of Kota, Vidisha, and Sagar. One of the major highlights of the project is that it will reduce the Kota–Sagar travel distance by nearly 75 kilometres, making journeys faster, safer, and more fuel-efficient. As a greenfield expressway, it will be built on a new alignment with modern design standards, controlled access, and high-speed travel facilities. The road will also integrate with existing and upcoming national corridors, including links to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, enhancing long-distance connectivity. The expressway is expected to play a crucial role in boosting trade, logistics, tourism, and industrial development in both states. It will improve access to markets for farmers, support regional businesses, and generate employment during and after construction. Overall, the Kota–Vidisha–Sagar Greenfield Expressway is seen as a strategic project that will accelerate economic growth and improve interstate mobility in central India.