‘Crorepati’ ex-constable sent to 6-day ED custody by Bhopal court

An ED squad from the Bhopal Zonal bureau arrested Sharma and 2 others, identified arsenic Sharad Jaiswal and Chetan Singh Gaur, connected February 10, successful transportation with a lawsuit involving disproportionate assets.

The ED questioned each 3 successful jailhouse aft obtaining support from the peculiar tribunal nether the Prevention of Corruption Act. Each of them was questioned separately for respective hours.

The ED said that the “responses provided by the trio were evasive”. The superior absorption of the interrogation was the 54 kg of golden and Rs 11 crore successful currency recovered successful a conveyance a time aft a Lokayukta hunt connected the premises of the accused. During questioning, “all 3 categorically denied ownership of the golden and cash, distancing themselves from the seized assets”.

The ED’s probe stemmed from an FIR registered by the Lokayukta, Special Police Establishment, Bhopal, nether Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

“It is revealed from the said FIR that Saurabh Sharma has amassed disproportionate assets worthy crores of rupees successful the sanction of his household members and associated firms/companies,” the ED said successful a statement.

The lawsuit took a important crook erstwhile the Income Tax Department seized a golden barroom weighing 52 kg and currency amounting to Rs 11 crore from the conveyance of Chetan Singh Gaur, who the ED said is simply a “close associate” of Sharma.

The ED conducted searches connected December 27, 2024, and January 17, 2025, astatine the residences of Saurabh Sharma, his household members, and associates, including Jaiswal and Gaur. During these searches, assorted incriminating documents were recovered, allegedly revealing important investments successful immovable properties and different assets.

The ED has truthful acold uncovered immovable properties worthy Rs 25 crore and seized oregon frozen movable assets worthy Rs 10 crore, each allegedly linked to Sharma, his household members, and his associates.

According to investigators, Sharma joined the Madhya Pradesh State Transport Department successful 2015 arsenic a constable connected compassionate grounds. “During the investigation, it was revealed that Sharma acquired immense assets disproportionate to his known sources of income aft getting the station of constable successful the RTO,” the ED said. It further alleged that Sharma, successful collaboration with Gaur and Jaiswal, established aggregate firms and companies, utilizing their slope accounts arsenic good arsenic those of his household members to launder proceeds of crime.