Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at eight places in Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur connected to former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma. Earlier on December 19, the special police establishment (SPE) Lokayukta police Bhopal had conducted the raid at the two premises of Sharma.

Later in the evening, a car carrying 52 kg gold and Rs 11 crore in cash was also seized by the Income Tax department from a car in Mandori area of the city. The ED initiated the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Sharma and his associate, Chetan Singh Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal following a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the SPE in Bhopal.

The ED was not able to seize many of the documents in the raid as the Lokayukta police had already seized the documents. The Lokayukta police had conducted the raids at the two locations but the ED had conducted the raid at eight locations. In Jabalpur, the team is searching the residence of Sharma's relative, Rohit Tiwari, in Shastri Nagar and also in one more place.

During the searches, the officials had seized banking transactions, information about bank lockers, property details and many other property related documents. The officials informed that the searches are still going on and it may conclude on Saturday morning.

4 places under search in Bhopal

In Bhopal, the agency is searching four locations, including Sharma's residence at E-7/78, his second residence at E-7/71, his office shared with Chetan Singh Gaur at E-7/657 and the residence of another associate, Sharad Jaiswal. Locksmiths were called to open doors at one of Sharma's properties in Bhopal. The locksmiths have opened three locks at the residence and the search was ongoing, the officials said. Additionally, searches were being conducted at two locations in Gwalior, including Sharma's residence and that of his associate, Chetan Singh Gaur.

Valuables hidden behind decoration

In Gwalior, the officials suspect that Sharma had recently made changes in the interior of the house and it is related to hiding the valuables behind the decoration. (The idea may have come from an Ajay Devgn-starrer movie Raid). The officials wanted to explore the new construction.