Madhya Pradesh Congress Media Department Chairman Mukesh nayak alleged that The Saurabh Sharma case in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a glaring example of the collusion between the Lokayukta and the government.
While talking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, Nayak said that former transport constable Saurabh Sharma, from whom unaccounted assets worth crores, 52 kilograms of gold, and over ?11 crore in cash were seized, has been granted bail by the Special Lokayukta Court due to gross negligence on the part of the Lokayukta police.
The failure to file a chargesheet within the stipulated 60-day period is not a mere coincidence but appears to be a deliberate and well-planned conspiracy, Nayak alleged. The Lokayukta's questionable role and the government's silence in this entire episode are bringing the truth to light.
Adding to the suspicions, Lokayukta DG Jaideep Prasad was suddenly transferred in the midst of the investigation. This raises serious questions about the government's intentions, as Prasad was the official who had initiated action against Saurabh Sharma for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. His transfer makes it evident that the government is willing to go to any extent to shield influential individuals involved in corruption. This is not an isolated incident. In Madhya Pradesh, the pattern of shielding corrupt officials through the collusion of the Lokayukta and the government has been ongoing for years. While the Lokayukta has repeatedly failed to act against corruption, even in cases where there is intent to prosecute, the government deliberately withholds prosecution sanctions, effectively protecting criminals.
The Lokayukta has now become a defunct and ineffective institution, acting as a partner in crime rather than a watchdog. The failure of the Lokayukta police in handling such a high-profile case has exposed the irrelevance of the agency. Despite the seizure of massive assets from Saurabh Sharma’s premises by the Lokayukta, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Income Tax Department, the lack of urgency in the investigation, the transfer of Jaideep Prasad, and the inability to file the chargesheet on time indicate that both the government and the Lokayukta are actively enabling criminals.
It is now imperative that this corrupt and ineffective institution be dismantled. The people of Madhya Pradesh demand to know the real reason behind Saurabh Sharma’s bail and the continued protection of corrupt individuals. If the government fails to maintain transparency in this case and does not take steps towards dissolving the Lokayukta, it will only confirm that its so-called fight against corruption is nothing but an illusion. The people will not tolerate this injustice and will respond through every democratic means available.
