The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta Special Police Establishment recovered gold worth around Rs 3.5 crore, over 1.6 kg of silver and more than Rs 26 lakh in cash during searches at the Bhopal residence of a senior forest department official on Saturday. The searches were conducted as part of a disproportionate assets investigation against Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director of Satpura Tiger Reserve.
A team of Lokayukta officials searched Sharma's residence in Professor Colony and simultaneously carried out searches at other premises linked to him. The action followed allegations that the officer had accumulated wealth beyond his known sources of income.
According to an NDTV report, officials found Rs 26,36,800 in cash, along with 2.528 kg of gold valued at approximately Rs 3.5 crore and 1.656 kg of silver worth around Rs 2.94 lakh.
Four vehicles — a Scorpio, Mahindra KUV, Royal Enfield Bullet and a scooter — were also found during the searches. Their combined estimated value is around Rs 31.2 lakh. Household articles worth approximately Rs 50 lakh were reportedly discovered as well.
Official figures detailing the recoveries were awaited.
Property and financial records under scrutiny
During the operation, investigators examined documents relating to properties, investments and financial transactions. The records are being assessed to establish the total value of Sharma's assets and determine whether his holdings are disproportionate to his legitimate income.
The investigation is being conducted by the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment, which probes corruption allegations against public servants, including cases involving assets allegedly accumulated beyond known sources of income.
Earlier raid exposed alleged wealth disproportionate to income
In another disproportionate assets case, Lokayukta police raided 3 locations linked to Sher Singh Thakur, manager of the Adim Jati Seva Sahakari Samiti in Nalcha, Dhar district, on November 4.
According to Inspector Ashutosh Mithas, the searches indicated that Thakur had earned an estimated Rs 65 lakh in salary over nearly 20 years of service but had spent Rs 2.41 crore on properties registered in his and his wife's names.
“The raids so far have revealed that the manager’s estimated salary during his nearly 20 years of service was Rs 65 lakh, while he spent Rs 2.41 crore on properties purchased in his and his wife’s names during this period," Mithas said, according to news agency PTI.
The properties reportedly included a two-storey house, a commercial building, 3.17 hectares of agricultural land, an earth-moving machine and several vehicles. Investigators also found information about another allegedly benami building, which was being verified.
A case was registered against Thakur under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, and further investigation was underway.