Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Enforcement Directorate (ED) to call Saurabh Sharma and his aides as the action of Lokayukta may conclude on Tuesday. ED sleuths had conducted two raids in the past two months (December and January) at various places of the state and other states, which are related to Saurabh and his relatives, friends and business associates.
On December 27 last year, the ED has made searches at eight premises across the state covering Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur. The searches covered residential premises of Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Singh Gaur, Sharad Jaiswal and Rohit Tiwari who were suspected beneficiaries of the Proceeds of Crime (POC) or have allegedly abetted in laundering.
In the searches, movable assets in the form of fixed deposits (FDs) of more than Rs 6 crore were identified in the name of Chetan Singh Gaur, associate of Saurabh Sharma and bank balances of more than Rs 4 crore were found in the name of family members and companies of Saurabh Sharma. Further, documents pertaining to immovable assets, properties worth more than Rs. 23 crore in the name of various companies and family members of Saurabh Sharma were found along with other incriminating documents.
Search actions revealed that such assets were allegedly purchased, acquired by Saurabh Sharma from illegal money obtained through corrupt practices while working as constable in the transport department. On January 17 again, the ED conducted raids and searches across the nation including Pune, Gwalior and Bhopal and found cash and valuables worth Rs 52 lakh.
Earlier, the ED had taken statements of Chetan Singh, mother of Saurabh and his wife. The ED had called many other accused like Sharad Jaiswal and Rohit Tiwari to appear at the office and to record their statements, but they never turned up. It is claimed that the ED wants to take statements of Saurabh Sharma, Sharad Jainwal, Rohit Tiwari, KK Arora at the primary stage.
As the names of other people will come during investigation, they will be also called to record statements. Whereas, the ED had to take permission from the Court to call and record the statements of the accused in their case.
