Synopsis
A Bhopal court has remanded former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma and his two associates to custody until February 17, following their arrests on corruption charges related to disproportionate assets. Multiple agencies are investigating the case, which has uncovered significant amounts of gold and cash.Key Takeaways
- Saurabh Sharma and two aides in custody.
- Judicial custody extended until February 17.
- Charges include corruption and disproportionate assets.
- Investigations involve multiple agencies.
- Significant findings include gold and cash seizures.
Bhopal, Feb 4 (NationPress) A district court in Bhopal has ordered that former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma and his two accomplices be held in judicial custody until February 17.
Sharma, along with his associates Chetan Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal, were presented in court after their seven-day police custody concluded on Tuesday, facing serious corruption charges.
It is significant to mention that the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police apprehended Sharma and Gaur on January 28, with Jaiswal being detained a day later.
The trio faces allegations of holding assets that are disproportionate to their declared sources of income.
As per the Madhya Pradesh Police, a case was initiated against Sharma following confidential verification of complaints submitted to the ombudsman regarding his purported corrupt practices.
The Lokayukta police subsequently secured search warrants from the local court to investigate both Sharma's residence in Arera Colony, Bhopal, and the office-cum-residence he shared with associate Gaur.
Over the last two and a half months, various agencies, including the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta, the Income Tax Department, and the Enforcement Directorate, have executed raids in multiple locations such as Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur.
The case gained further attention when the Income Tax Department seized approximately 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 lakh in cash from an abandoned vehicle located in a forested area of Bhopal on December 19.
In December, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at over 12 locations associated with Sharma's relatives, who are suspected to be involved in the case.
The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police have identified more than 30 individuals, including Sharma's mother, wife, and other close family members.
Sharma entered the Transport Department in 2016 as a constable on compassionate grounds following his father's death in 2015. After serving for 12 years, he opted for voluntary retirement in 2023, even as a probe against him was ongoing at that time.
