Ex-RTO Constable Arrested in Bhopal for Disproportionate Assets
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Synopsis
Former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma was arrested in Bhopal for allegedly gathering assets beyond his known income sources. He had been evading authorities since multiple raids occurred on his properties. The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police apprehended him outside the court where he was to surrender.
Key Takeaways
- Saurabh Sharma arrested for disproportionate assets.
- He had been evading arrest prior to his court appearance.
- Sharma's family was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate.
- Multiple agencies conducted extensive raids linked to the case.
- Sharma's assets include 52 kg of gold.
Bhopal, Jan 28 (NationPress) Former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma, who is under investigation for accumulating assets that are inconsistent with his declared income, was apprehended by the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta police in Bhopal on Tuesday.
Sharma had been evading authorities since the raids on his properties and was expected to present himself to the Bhopal district court that morning.
"Lokayukta Police detained him (Saurabh Sharma) outside the court premises," stated Sharma's lawyer Rakesh Parasar to IANS.
On Monday, Sharma submitted a surrender request through his attorney Suryakant Bhujade to a special Lokayukta court.
The court instructed him to appear on Tuesday at 11 am. Prior to his surrender, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Sharma's family members, including his wife and mother, regarding a money laundering investigation.
After several hours of questioning, the ED permitted them to leave.
Sharma's attorney previously informed the media that he would surrender only if the state government guaranteed his safety.
The attorney also claimed that the seized assets, which included 52 kg of gold and property documents, were not his and that he was willing to assist the agencies involved in the investigation.
In recent months, multiple agencies, including the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta, Income Tax, and Enforcement Directorate, have conducted numerous raids across various parts of the state, such as Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur in relation to this case.
In the last month, the ED has searched over 12 locations tied to Sharma's relatives, suspected of having connections to the investigation.
Sharma joined the Transport Department as a constable in 2016 on compassionate grounds after his father, a government physician, passed away in 2015.
He served as an RTO constable for 12 years and voluntarily retired in 2023. Officials noted that Sharma's retirement request was accepted in 2023, despite an ongoing inquiry against him.
Last week, the attorney for Sharma's close associate Sharad Jaiswal indicated to the media that Jaiswal was also prepared to surrender to the court, provided the state government assured his safety.
