Madhya Pradesh official’s houses raided, hidden assets found

BHOPAL - Raids conducted at the residences of deputy director of the urban administration department here have yielded immovable property and other hidden assets worth over Rs.2 crore, officials said Monday.

“Lokayukta (vigilance) police has since Sunday raided residences of urban administration department (UAD) deputy director Ashok Sharma in Ujjain, Indore and Bhopal and unearthed assets worth over Rs.2 crore. The search operations are still on,” Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Avinash Sharma said.

Three teams of Lokayukta special establishment police descended at his houses in the three cities and began search operations which yielded assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, he said.

Avinash Sharma said a case would be registered against the deputy director.

Ashok Sharma’s son Rohan is studying in Singapore while his daughter Aayushi is in Chicago, US. His third child Urvashi is studying engineering at Sri Govindram Sekseria Institute of Technology and Science (SGSITS).

Ujjain MP Premcand Guddu had complained against Ashok Sharma alleging that he shielded an official of the town local body who was indicted in corruption regarding laying of a water supply pipeline and digging of borewells.

The Lokayukta SP said the search resulted in detection of Rs.6 lakh-worth jewellery, cash amount of Rs.82,000, bank fixed deposits valued at Rs.18 lakh, National Savings Scheme (NSS) certificates worth Rs.2 lakh, bank deposit of Rs.7.5 lakh, life insurance policies of Rs.6.5 lakh, two cars costing Rs.10 lakh and two-wheelers valued at Rs.1 lakh.