Indore government contractors 24-carat gold-plated mansion sparks outrage - WATCH
A gold-plated mansion owned by a government contractor in Indore has triggered public outrage after going viral.
A video showing a lavish gold-plated mansion in Indore has triggered massive backlash online. The clip, originally posted by Priyam Saraswat, known for showcasing unique Indian homes, featured a house where walls, ceilings, taps and even switchboards are coated in 24-carat gold.
The home belongs to Anoop Agarwal, a government contractor involved in road and bridge construction. He allowed Saraswat to tour the mansion, which also includes a personal gaushala (cow shed) and a rare collection of vintage and luxury cars. But the grand display of wealth did not sit well with viewers.
Social media users accused Agarwal of misusing public funds and questioned how a government contractor could afford such a luxurious lifestyle. The backlash was so intense that Saraswat deleted the original video.
However, the controversy reignited after the Kerala Congress shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), criticising the contractor and pointing to larger questions of corruption and accountability.
The political party wrote, "Why are our highways collapsing, bridges falling into the river? Find the answers here. The Govt contractor from Indore has built a house where taps and switches are made of gold. He has ED proofed himself by building a Gau Shala in his house. People who wanted to ED to raid the Pani puri wala who earned 40 lakhs by working hard wouldn’t want the ED to visit this gentleman’s house.”
Public anger continued to grow in the comments. One user questioned, "Will EC, ED, IT raid the house now and investigate how a government contractor can live in such a lavish villa?” Another wrote, "No wonder the condition of roads in MP is pathetic.”
Someone added, "Bridges collapse even before inauguration, and roads get potholes within a year of service because of you people. You create more corruption than you stop.”
Many mocked the gaushala as a possible "shield” against income tax or enforcement action. Some suspected it was built only for show, just to appear benevolent on video.
In the now-deleted footage, Agarwal shared his backstory. He revealed that his large family of 25 people once relied on a single petrol pump. Realising it wasn’t enough, he entered government contracting and began taking projects related to road and bridge construction.