Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Replying to written question of Leader of Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar regarding the raid on former transport department constable Saurabh Sharma, the Chief Minister clarified that no dairy was seized during the operation.

In his written reply, the Chief Minister stated that the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Lokayukta did not conduct any seizure exercise (in which gold and cash were confiscated from an abandoned car) near Mendori in Bhopal in December 2024.

Instead, the SPE conducted searches at Sharma’s residential property (E 7/78) and office (E 7/657 Arera Colony) on December 19 and 20, respectively, Said Yadav in his reply. The SPE filed a case against Sharma under Section 13(1)B read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended Act 2018) on December 19.

During the investigation, Sharma’s wife Divya Tiwari, Sharad Jaiswal, Chetan Singh Gaur, and others were also named as accused. Later, additional sections were added to the case, and further investigation is underway. The probe is being carried out by the SPE, Lokayukta.

Additionally, a complaint (295/24) has been registered with the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), and it is under investigation, Yadav stated in his response. Singhar had asked whether, during the Lokayukta raid last December, around 54 kg of gold and cash worth crores were seized from an abandoned car in Mendori, and who were behind it.

He also wanted to know whether a diary containing details of illegal collection by the transport department was seized during the searches and whether it included names and details of monetary transactions. It should be noted that it was the Income Tax department that seized the cash and gold from the abandoned car in Mendori.