The court has remanded former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma and his associate Chetan Gaur to police custody until February 4 after their arrest by the Lokayukta. The duo was presented in court on Tuesday following a five-hour interrogation at the Lokayukta office.
The Lokayukta had sought a seven-day police remand, but Saurabh’s lawyer, Harish Mehta, opposed the request. However, after considering all arguments, the court granted the seven-day remand.
During the hearing, the Lokayukta’s lawyer argued that further investigation was necessary, including face-to-face questioning of Saurabh and Chetan.
The Lokayukta also revealed that a "golden car" seized during the search belonged to Chetan Gaur.
Meanwhile, Saurabh’s partner, Sharad Jaiswal, arrived at the Lokayukta office with his lawyer to record his statement. After providing his statement, Jaiswal was also taken into custody and questioned.
Saurabh Sharma had been absconding for 41 days, evading searches by the Lokayukta, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax Department. He eventually surrendered at the Lokayukta special court in Bhopal on Monday with his lawyer. The court ordered him to appear again on Tuesday at 11 a.m., where the Lokayukta arrested him outside the court premises.
In a span of nine days, the ED, Lokayukta, and Income Tax Department conducted raids on Saurabh’s residence and uncovered assets worth over Rs 93 crores. This included 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 crores in cash found in a car.
On December 27, the ED raided the properties of Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Singh Gaur, Sharad Jaiswal, and Rohit Tiwari. The investigation revealed a bank balance of Rs 4 crores in the accounts of Saurabh’s family and friends, along with properties worth Rs 23 crores.
The case highlights the extensive corruption involving Saurabh Sharma and his associates, with multiple agencies working to uncover the full extent of their illicit activities. The court’s decision to grant a seven-day remand reflects the ongoing need for thorough investigation into the case.