A retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer was found with his throat slit at his home in Bhopal on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), prompting Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to order the DGP, Kailash Makwana, to monitor the case.

Rakesh Agrawal’s body was found early on Wednesday morning in his home in the Suraj Nagar area, under Ratibad police station, according to the police. They are looking for Varun, a male nurse, hired only three days ago, who has been missing since the morning. Mr. Agarwal, 70, is a 1982-batch IAS officer.

Ratibad police station in-charge Ras Bihari Sharma told that an FIR has been lodged under relevant provisions, including murder charges, while the search for Mr. Varun is still on. “We are still working to establish a motive in the case and trace the suspect,” he said. 

Motive unclear

Bhopal Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Monika Shukla told that the caregiver, Varun, is the primary suspect, and police were questioning the agency that hired him for background details in an effort to contact his relatives and trace his movements. Ms. Shukla said that the suspect hails from Punjab

“We are also tracking his phone and analysing digital evidence like CCTV footage. As of now, he seems like the prime suspect,” Ms. Shukla said, adding that the motive was not yet clear.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, T. T. Nagar, Ankita Khatarkar, stated that Mr. Agrawal’s body was discovered around 4.45 a.m. by his wife, who was sleeping in another room.

“When she woke up, she found out that the door to the house was locked from the outside; she called their house-help from his quarters, who opened the door using a spare key. After this, they found the body,” Ms. Khatarkar said. 

Police found that LPG gas had been leaked into the house, Ms. Khatarkar said.

The house-help, Amar, told local reporters that the gas was leaked by removing the regulator and inserting a pin in the cylinder. 

Mr. Agrawal had been suffering from a slipped disc and had been discharged from hospital about 20 days ago, after which Mr. Varun had been hired as a male nurse, Ms. Khatarkar added.

There were no CCTV cameras in the house, she said. 

Heart-breaking

The Chief Minister posted on X, calling the incident “heart-breaking”. 

“The news of the untimely demise of Shri Rakesh Agrawal Ji, a retired officer of the IAS, in a tragic incident is extremely heartbreaking. Shri Agrawal Ji was a humble and diligent officer; heartfelt tribute to him,” Mr. Yadav said. 

“Instructions have been issued to the Director General of Police to monitor the case. The State Government is fully sensitive to this matter. The culprits will be identified, and legal action will be taken. No guilty person will be spared,” Mr. Yadav added.