Year on, no chargesheet yet against constable with asset trail of Rs 100cr

Bhopal: More than a year after the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta raided premises linked to former transport department constable Saurabh Sharma on December 19, 2024, investigators are yet to file a chargesheet, with officials citing the scrutiny of heaps of documents, financial records and property papers in what became one of the state’s biggest corruption investigations.Multiple raids by ED and IT dept at his properties last year yielded ₹2.85 crore in cash and 234 kg of silver found at his residence, while an abandoned SUV belonging to an associate was found holding 52 kg of gold bars and an additional ₹11 crore in cash.Based on cash, gold, jewellery, immovable properties, business investments and documents seized by the Lokayukta, IT dept and ED, Sharma’s suspected asset trail is tentatively pegged at Rs 100–150 crore in traceable wealth. However, some complaints and preliminary estimates by investigators suggested the wider network could run into Rs 500–700 crore, a figure yet to be officially established.The Lokayukta registered a disproportionate assets case against Sharma following the December 2024 searches. The case later expanded, with other agencies like ED also probing financial transactions and alleged benami links.Even after more than a year since the raids and months after the FIR was registered, the investigating agency is yet to place a chargesheet before the special court.Lokayukta officials defended the delay, saying investigators are examining thousands of documents seized during raids and subsequent searches.“There are heaps of documents that need verification. Every financial transaction and property record has to be cross-checked. The chargesheet will be filed soon,” said Yogesh Deshmukh, DG special police establishment (SPE).According to officials, the probe involves scrutiny of bank records, property papers, investment details and financial transactions allegedly linked to Sharma and his associates.The delay in filing the prosecution report had earlier helped Sharma secure default bail in the Lokayukta case. He, however, continued to face proceedings in a separate Enforcement Directorate case.The case had sparked national attention after searches linked to Sharma allegedly revealed large amounts of cash, gold and documents related to multiple properties. Investigators are also examining whether assets were purchased through associates or other entities.