Madhya Pradesh: Ex-RTO Constable and Associates in Police Custody for Corruption Charges
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Synopsis
Former RTO Constable Saurabh Sharma and his accomplice Chetan Gaur were arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act. They were presented in a Bhopal court, where the Lokayukta sought seven days of custody for investigation. Another co-defendant, Sharad Jaiswal, surrendered in court amid ongoing scrutiny by law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Saurabh Sharma and Chetan Gaur arrested for corruption.
- All three suspects evaded police for over 40 days.
- Significant assets seized, including gold and cash.
- Lokayukta Police actively investigating the case.
- Sharma's retirement accepted despite ongoing inquiries.
Bhopal, Jan 28 (NationPress) Former Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Constable Saurabh Sharma and his accomplice Chetan Gaur were apprehended under the Prevention of Corruption Act and presented before a Bhopal court on Tuesday.
Following over five hours of interrogation by Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police, another co-defendant, Sharad Jaiswal, also turned himself in at the court.
During the session, the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta requested a seven-day custody for further investigation.
The special Lokayukta Court granted the request, placing all defendants in seven-day police (Lokayukta) custody until February 4.
The trio has been evading law enforcement since the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta initiated a case against them over 40 days ago.
For example, Sharma was taken into custody by Lokayukta Police just minutes before he aimed to present himself to the court on Tuesday.
Following his capture, Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Director General (DG) Jaideep Prashad informed reporters that Sharma was apprehended in Bhopal and was under interrogation.
However, he provided no details regarding the arrest of Chetan Gaur.
In response to media inquiries, Prashad indicated that Sharma would be brought before the court post-interrogation, and that the arrest of the co-defendant was imminent.
Ultimately, Lokayukta Police presented Sharma and his associate Chetan Gaur together to the court, while Sharad Jaiswal also arrived and surrendered.
The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Police refrained from commenting on the whereabouts of the accused trio over the past 40 days and their sudden appearance.
“The Lokayukta team received intelligence that Sharma would be in Bhopal on Tuesday, prompting action which resulted in his arrest,” DG Prashad stated.
Importantly, Saurabh Sharma's case gained significant attention after Income Tax (IT) officials discovered 52 kg of gold valued over Rs 40 crore and Rs 9.86 crore in cash from an abandoned vehicle.
The vehicle, registered under the number plate MP 07 (Gwalior RTO) in the name of Chetan Gaur, was found late on December 19 in Bhopal.
Subsequently, acting on Lokayukta's complaint, the Enforcement Department (ED) conducted searches at various locations and seized assets worth several crores.
In the last month, the ED has raided over 12 properties linked to Sharma and his relatives suspected to be involved in the case.
Official sources indicate that the ED interrogated Sharma's wife and mother on Monday, but they were released after several hours of questioning.
Sharma joined the transport department as a Constable in 2016 under compassionate grounds following the death of his father, a government doctor at the Gwalior district hospital in 2015.
He served as an RTO constable for 12 years and opted for voluntary retirement in 2023.
Authorities revealed that Sharma's voluntary retirement application was accepted in 2023, despite an ongoing investigation against him.
