In the latest development in the ongoing investigation against Saurabh Sharma, a former constable in the Madhya Pradesh state transport department, the ED has found an amount of Rs 4 crore in the bank accounts of Saurabh Sharma and his family members. Besides, properties worth Rs 23 crores belonging to the former constable is also reportedly under the scanner of the agency.
ईडी को सौरभ के यहां मिली 23 करोड़ की प्रॉपर्टी: 9 दिन में 3 एजेंसियों की कार्रवाई; अब तक 93 करोड़ से ज्यादा की संपत्ति बरामद#MadhyaPradesh #Bhopal https://t.co/xT65rXUKRg pic.twitter.com/rVF5ZECBe1
— Dainik Bhaskar (@DainikBhaskar) December 31, 2024
Last year on 23rd December, the assets worth Rs 7.98 crore were recovered by the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta from the premises of Saurabh Sharma. The investigating agencies are on the lookout for Sharma who is absconding. Summons were issued by the IT Department against Sharma, his associates Chetan Singh Gaud and Sharad Jaiswal requiring them to appear for interrogation. It is suspected that Sharma might already have fled the country. Sharma’s application for anticipatory bail has also been rejected.
Apart from a vehicle loaded with 11 crores in cash and 52 kgs of gold bullion that was allegedly linked to Sharma’s illegal network, the raids on Sharma’s residence have also seized luxury watches, bags, and other expensive items. These items are believed to be used for bribery in various government departments.
As per reports, in the 9 days since the investigation started, total assets worth over 90 crores owned by Sharma, his associates and his family members have been traced by the probing agencies. These include cash, gold, silver, vehicles, houses, bank FDs and investments.
Multiple raids have been carried out by the Enforcement Directorate at different locations linked with Sharma and his associates in Bhopal, Gwaliar and Jabalpur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Besides the ED, the Income Tax Department and the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta SPE are also investigating the source of the illegal wealth amassed by Sharma and his associates. The assets seized by the agencies so far include Rs 10 crore cash, foreign currency, jewellery worth Rs 50 lakhs, vehicles worth Rs 2.21 crore.