Synopsis
On February 21, a special court in Bhopal denied the bail application of former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma, who faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. His lawyer argued against the prosecution's claims, but the court found the ongoing investigation warranted the denial.Key Takeaways
- Saurabh Sharma had his bail application rejected.
- The denial was based on ongoing investigations.
- Sharma has been implicated along with associates.
- Significant unaccounted assets have been uncovered.
- Multiple agencies are involved in the investigation.
Bhopal, Feb 21 (NationPress) A specialized court in this city has denied the bail plea of former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma, who was apprehended by the Madhya Pradesh Police under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Sharma had submitted a bail request to the court on Wednesday.
During the continued hearing on the bail request, Sharma's lawyer, Rakesh Parasar, contended that the investigative bodies have not confiscated any items from Sharma's possession and that he has no ties to the 52 kg of gold found in an abandoned vehicle in Bhopal.
Parasar further attempted to persuade the court by stating that Sharma has no prior criminal history and is willing to assist the authorities in the investigation.
Nonetheless, the prosecution raised objections, arguing that investigations by various agencies are still ongoing. After considering arguments from both parties, Judge Rampratap Mishra denied Sharma's bail request.
Saurabh Sharma, along with two accomplices, Chetan Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal, were taken into custody by the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police on January 28 and 29, and are currently in judicial custody.
In the course of the investigation, Sharma and his associates disclosed the names of multiple government officials, politicians, and other prominent individuals, alleging their involvement in a larger scheme.
The ED officials are currently validating the names mentioned and reviewing call records.
Numerous raids conducted by the Lokayukta and the Income Tax department have uncovered unaccounted assets linked to Saurabh Sharma.
On December 20, officials seized a vehicle near a forest area in Bhopal, recovering ₹11 crore in cash and gold bars weighing 52 kg. Sharma has been evading capture since that incident.
A lookout notice was issued for him. In the meantime, investigative agencies executed consecutive raids at the properties of his business partners and relatives.
Under significant pressure, Sharma and Gaur ultimately surrendered at the Lokayukta Court in Bhopal on January 28, while Sharad Jaiswal surrendered the following day.
