ED files charge-sheet in money laundering case involving Saurabh

Bhopal: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) filed a charge sheet against former constable of the transport department, Saurabh Sharma, and other accused in a money laundering case at a special PMLA court in Bhopal. Although a press note issued by the ED did not specify the names of the other accused in the case charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sources said that close relatives of Sharma, including his mother, wife, brother-in-law, and his aides Chetan Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal, who are in jail with Sharma, are also among the accused.Following a raid at Sharma's premises by the Special Police Establishment (SPE), Lokayukta, in Jan, cash and assets worth Rs 110 crore were unearthed. Gold bars weighing 52 kg and cash of Rs 11 crore were later seized from a deserted SUV in Kerwa jungles the same night. The SUV was found to be registered in the name of Chetan Gaur. In the charge sheet, however, the ED said that the gold and cash found in the SUV belonged to Saurabh Sharma. The ED also prayed for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 108.25 crore.The ED initiated an investigation in the case on the basis of an FIR registered by SPE, Lokayukta, under sections 13 (2) and 13 (1) (b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Later, Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Gaur, and Sharad Jaiswal were arrested under section 19 of PMLA, 2002, by the ED, and they are lodged in central jail, Bhopal, on judicial custody.The ED has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 92.07 crore and March 25, relatable to the POC derived and obtained by Sharma in his own name or the name of his relatives/associates and also in the name of firms/companies/societies, etc, owned or controlled by them. Further, a seizure of Rs 16.18 crore has been made in the matter. The case is scheduled to come up for hearing both in Lokayukta and PMLA court on April 11.