Bhopal:
A constable-turned-builder in Madhya Pradesh is being investigated by a number of central businesses in reference to an alleged corruption case. The case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) and Lokayukta with every company specializing in completely different features of the case, which got here to mild earlier this week.
On December 19, property value Rs 7.98 crore, together with Rs 2.87 crore in money and 234 kilograms of silver have been seized after searches on the properties of Saurabh Sharma – a former constable within the state transport division – in Bhopal by Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta’s Particular Police Institution (SPE).
The investigation gained momentum when 52 kg gold and Rs 11 crore money have been present in an abandoned SUV parked on the outskirts of Bhopal the identical day. The automotive was discovered within the Mendori forest on town’s outskirts following inputs that gold was being transported through jungle route. A number of witnesses reported seeing armed people abandoning the automobile. Performing on a tip-off, IT officers seized the automotive below part 132 of the Revenue Tax Act, treating it as an impartial operation.
The Innova automotive reportedly belongs to Chetan Gaur, an affiliate of Saurabh Sharma.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a case in opposition to the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) in opposition to Mr Sharma and Mr Gaur. Mr Sharma is believed to have fled to Dubai.
In the meantime, the Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) is working to hint the origins of the unaccounted gold, including one other layer to the investigation.
The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta’s SPE has additionally intensified its probe and summons have been issued to Mr Sharma, his relations, and shut associates, together with Mr Gaur.
Mr Sharma’s journey from a transport division constable to an actual property magnate can also be below scrutiny.
His father RK Sharma was a authorities physician and died in 2015. Afterwards, Saurabh Sharma was appointed as a constable within the state transport division on compassionate grounds in 2015 and took voluntary retirement in 2023.
After taking voluntary retirement in 2023, he entered the actual property sector, forming ties with distinguished builders in Bhopal.
The previous constable used cash earned by means of corrupt means to amass large property, together with organising a college and lodge within the title of his mom, spouse, sister-in-law and shut associates Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal, a Lokayukta SPE official mentioned.
As per sources, paperwork from a number of earnings tax raids unearthed Rs 100 crore in alleged transactions involving transport division officers throughout 52 districts, suggesting a sprawling community of corruption.
The probe additionally factors to systemic corruption inside the transport division, with allegations in opposition to senior officers.
The case has additionally sparked a political row. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has referred to as for a judicial probe below the supervision of the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Courtroom’s Chief Justice. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Singh criticised the dealing with of the case and demanded that the ED and IT departments take unique management of the investigation.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, responding to the allegations, acknowledged, “Our authorities has at all times fought a principled battle in opposition to corruption. We had even shut down test obstacles. We’re dedicated to combating corruption at each stage.”