Bhopal: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Saurabh Sharma, a former constable of the Madhya Pradesh State Road Transportation Department, and his associate, Chetan Singh Gaur.
This action follows an FIR lodged by the Lokayukta’s Special Police Establishment (SPE) in Bhopal, which led to the seizure of assets worth crores from their residences.
The Lokayukta’s SPE conducted search operations on December 19 and 20, uncovering substantial assets suspected to be disproportionate to Sharma’s known sources of income. At Sharma’s residence, authorities discovered vehicles, household goods, jewelry, and cash valued at approximately ₹3.86 crore. Additional assets, including silver and cash worth around ₹4.12 crore, were found at an office shared with Gaur. In total, the assets seized amounted to approximately ₹7.98 crore.
In a separate operation, the Income Tax Department seized around 54 kg of gold biscuits and nearly ₹10 crore in cash from an abandoned vehicle allegedly linked to Gaur. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has initiated a parallel investigation into the gold biscuits, suspecting they may have been imported illegally.
Sharma, who took voluntary retirement a year ago after 12 years of service, has been involved in real estate investments. He is currently residing in Dubai with his family and is expected to face detention upon his return to India. The Lokayukta investigation has also revealed Sharma’s property holdings in multiple districts, including Bhopal, and his investments in a hotel and a school, which is embroiled in a land controversy.
The ED’s action marks a significant step in addressing corruption and money laundering within the state. Further investigations are ongoing, and officials have stated that the documents retrieved during the searches will be thoroughly examined to determine the full extent of the alleged financial irregularities.
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