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'560% above known income': Lokayukta uncovers Rs 7.6 crore 'empire' of forest officer

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Lokayukta's Special Police Establishment executed court-issued search warrants across Sharma's official and private premises, uncovering cash, extensive real estate, and precious metals. Initial assessments confirmed his disproportionate assets reached 560% above his lawful earnings, up from an earlier estimate of 228%. Investigators also confiscated 28 land registry documents to trace transactions routed through the officer's wife and outside associates. Total property valuations are expected to rise as financial specialists finalize assessments of the uncovered assets.

Key points

  • Sanjeev Kumar Sharma faces formal prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act foll…: Sanjeev Kumar Sharma faces formal prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act following confidential tips regarding proxy holdings.
  • The officer amassed personal assets exceeding his legally documented sources of income by…: The officer amassed personal assets exceeding his legally documented sources of income by an estimated 560 percent.
  • The coordinated raids were conducted by Bhopal division teams as part of an anti-corrupti…: The coordinated raids were conducted by Bhopal division teams as part of an anti-corruption push led by Lokayukta Director General Yogesh Deshmukh.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

BHOPAL: The Lokayukta's Special Police Establishment (SPE) on Saturday raided the government residence and office of Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, assistant director of Satpura Tiger Reserve in Pachmarhi, and his private residence in Chhindwara in a disproportionate assets case, claiming to have unearthed assets worth around Rs 7.6 crore.

The searches, conducted by multiple teams of the Lokayukta SPE's Bhopal division, revealed Rs 26.36 lakh in cash, gold jewellery weighing 2.528kg, silver weighing 1.656kg, several vehicles and two hospitality properties, including a resort and a villa, according to the agency's preliminary assessment.

The Lokayukta SPE said an initial verification had indicated that Sharma allegedly possessed assets 228% higher than his known sources of income.

However, the searches reportedly revealed properties estimated at around Rs 7.6 crore, which the agency said were approximately 560% disproportionate to his known income.

The raids followed confidential information that Sharma had allegedly accumulated assets disproportionate to his income in the names of his wife and other private individuals.

A case was registered against him under Section 13(1)(b), read with Section 13(2), of the Prevention of Corruption…

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