Mauganj – Madhya Pradesh: BJP MLA Pradeep Patel Missing From Public View For Nearly A Month

Mauganj – Madhya Pradesh: BJP MLA Pradeep Patel Missing From Public View For Nearly A Month

Bhopal/Mauganj: Fear and politics are simmering together in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj — and at the centre of the storm is a ruling BJP MLA who has seemingly vanished from public life.

Pradeep Patel has not been seen in his constituency for nearly a month. He has skipped official events. Calls go unanswered. His absence, once dismissed as routine, has now snowballed into a political mystery after a video surfaced showing the legislator visibly anxious and warning his family not to step outside.

In the clip, Patel instructs his grandson not to open the door for anyone, even if the bell rings. Essentials, he says, should be ordered online. The family claims they are living under a “serious threat.”

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NDTV Tracks The Trail

Following leads that the MLA may be staying at the MLA Rest House in Bhopal, NDTV reached the premises. The reception directed the team to a flat allegedly linked to him.

The doorbell was rung repeatedly. Calls were made. There was no response.

Later, a man identifying himself as the MLA’s son briefly stepped out. He spoke cautiously, mentioned threats, and invoked a name that has since dominated the narrative — the “Musa gang” — before retreating inside.

Locked Houses, Closed Offices

To verify the situation on the ground, NDTV correspondents traced the MLA’s footprint across Mauganj and Rewa.

The findings were striking:

The Rewa residence was locked.

The Mauganj house was locked.

The constituency office was shut.

No staff presence. No public access. Only rumours.

Residents say the absence has paralysed local work. “He hasn’t been in the area for 30-40 days. People are suffering,” said Anil Mishra, a local resident. Others, speaking off-camera, claimed grievances have piled up as the elected representative remains unreachable.

The Night That Changed Everything

The political storm traces back to the night of January 3-4, when a land dispute near the Mauganj bypass escalated sharply.

The MLA sat on a protest for nearly four hours in support of Congress leader Vinod Mishra at the disputed site. When Lallu Pandey, associated with the opposing side, arrived, tensions flared. Police detained him, but crowds swelled and slogans echoed through the night.

The administration escorted the MLA to safety. He remained at the police station until late, but no formal written complaint was filed. The following day, a case was registered against 150 unidentified individuals and some arrests were made.

Soon after, Patel disappeared from public view.

The “Musa Gang” Question

The family claims repeated threats forced them indoors. The MLA’s grandson, Arjun Patel, alleged that a group associated with a person named Musa once stormed a police officer’s chamber with 50-60 people, suggesting an organised intimidation network.

Locals say they have even seen vehicles bearing the words “Musa gang.”

“If 100-200 people attack and security isn’t strong, anyone will be scared,” said Anil Mishra.

But here lies the biggest contradiction.

District police insist no such gang exists. Superintendent of Police Dilip Soni dismissed the claim, saying that an inspector had once irresponsibly mentioned a “Musa gang” in a diary entry last year and action was taken against him.

Yet that diary entry — reportedly dated January 29, 2025 — describes 40-50 individuals entering an officer’s chamber, issuing threats and allegedly being referred to locally as the “Musa gang.”

The family says the threat is real. Police say the gang is a myth.

That contradiction now sits at the heart of the controversy.

Political Reactions Add To Confusion

Political statements have only deepened the mystery.

Rewa BJP MP Janardan Mishra suggested the MLA is simply on leave, saying everyone is entitled to personal time.

State minister Radha Singh said Patel is on a pilgrimage and that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav knows his whereabouts. She added that if the MLA were truly missing, there would have been public protests.

The Opposition, however, has attacked the government over law and order. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar questioned how safe ordinary citizens could feel if a ruling-party MLA himself fears for his life.

A Mystery Without Answers

As of now, key questions remain unanswered:

If the threat is genuine, why has no formal complaint been filed?

If there is no threat, why the month-long silence?

Is the “Musa gang” real, exaggerated, or politically convenient?

In Mauganj, the uncertainty has grown heavier with each passing day. Residents continue to seek clarity. The administration offers no definitive explanation. The family remains indoors.

The mystery may only end when Pradeep Patel appears publicly and addresses the questions that now stretch from Mauganj to Bhopal — and beyond.