Bhopal, Jan 20 (NationPress) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal Zonal Office, has lodged a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Sobaran Singh Apouriya, the former Senior District Registrar of Bhopal, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The complaint was presented to the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal on January 19, 2026. A notice for pre-cognizance hearing has been issued to the accused, as stated by the investigation agency.

The ED initiated its investigation following an FIR filed by the Special Police Establishment, Lokayukta Office, Bhopal, in the Special Court of Bhopal.

The FIR accused Apouriya under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possessing assets that are disproportionate to his known income sources.

As per the ED's findings, while serving as a public servant in the role of Senior District Registrar, Bhopal, Apouriya allegedly misused his official capacity to accumulate assets worth Rs. 97,13,289, which were grossly disproportionate to his known and lawful income sources.

This accumulation constituted significant Proceeds of Crime (PoC) originating from the scheduled corruption offence. The investigation further disclosed that Apouriya directly benefited from these proceeds and engaged in money laundering.

During the relevant period, he misused his authority to amass illicit wealth and established a deliberate mechanism to retain, hide, and enjoy the proceeds while attempting to obscure their actual ownership.

Investigators discovered that Apouriya intentionally acquired, held, concealed, and utilized the Proceeds of Crime, presenting them as legitimate. He allegedly funneled illicit cash through various bank accounts belonging to family members and converted the funds into diverse financial instruments and properties to mask their true nature, as reported by the agency.

This established the crime of money laundering under Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002, which is punishable under Section 4 of the Act. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by central agencies to combat corruption among public officials, particularly in revenue and registration departments where abuse of power can occur.

The Lokayukta's initial investigation into disproportionate assets created the pathway for the ED to explore the money laundering angle, aiming to trace and seize ill-gotten gains.

The matter is now under the jurisdiction of the Special PMLA Court in Bhopal, where proceedings will determine the subsequent actions, including potential confirmation of any attachments and trial on the charges.