Missing Constable Saurabh Sharma’s Rs 500 Crore Assets Spark BJP-Congress Corruption Row
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: The mysterious disappearance of Saurabh Sharma, a former constable with the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department, has erupted into a fierce political controversy. Sharma, who reportedly amassed assets worth over Rs 500 crore, has been linked to a series of corruption allegations that have drawn sharp responses from both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress. What began as a raid by the Lokayukta police in December 2023 has now spiraled into a high-stakes political battle in the state.
डायरी और सौरभ का अस्तित्व खतरे में है!
क्योंकि, डायरी में पूरी सरकार है! pic.twitter.com/Ij93yprjru— Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari (@jitupatwari) January 3, 2025
The Seizure of Wealth and Allegations of Corruption
The controversy began on December 19, 2023, when the Lokayukta police conducted a series of raids on premises connected to Saurabh Sharma, a 29-year-old constable who had been appointed to the transport department on compassionate grounds after his father’s death in 2015. During the raids, officials seized Rs 11 crore in cash and over 52 kg of gold from an abandoned vehicle linked to Sharma. These findings raised immediate red flags, suggesting that the constable, a low-ranking government employee, had accumulated a staggering amount of wealth far beyond his legitimate earnings.
Further investigation revealed that on the same day as the raids, an Innova car, registered under the name of Sharma’s alleged associate Chetan Singh Gaud, was found abandoned in a forest area on the outskirts of Bhopal. The vehicle, emblazoned with a plate marked ‘Regional Transport Officer,’ hinted at Sharma’s connections within the transport department and potentially the larger corruption network.
In addition to the physical evidence, a crucial discovery was made in the form of a diary found at Sharma’s residence. The diary, which is said to contain detailed records of corruption within the transport department, has been at the center of the political firestorm that has ensued.
Congress Accuses BJP of Corruption Cover-Up
The diary, which reportedly contains over 66 pages of notes, has been a point of contention between the Congress and BJP. Congress leader Jitu Patwari, the president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, raised alarms over the contents of the diary, claiming that it documented extensive corruption in the transport department. According to Patwari, six pages from the diary mentioned over Rs 1,300 crore extorted from various check posts in the state. He alleged that these activities were orchestrated under the watch of the current BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh.
Patwari also expressed concern over the safety of Saurabh Sharma, fearing for his life amid the corruption revelations. He demanded that Sharma be provided security, as his knowledge of the alleged scam could put him in grave danger. Furthermore, Patwari claimed that the diary contained references to ‘TC’ and ‘TM’—suspected code words for the Transport Commissioner and the Transport Minister, which he believes point to top-level involvement in the corruption.
“Why has the investigation stalled? Who is responsible for suppressing these critical pages of the diary?” Patwari questioned, calling the BJP government’s inaction a sign of complicity in the corruption scandal.
BJP Responds to Congress Allegations
The BJP quickly dismissed the charges, accusing Congress of hypocrisy and corruption during their brief tenure in the state government. BJP media in-charge Ashish Agarwal retorted that the Congress should recall its own 15-month administration under former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, which he claimed was riddled with corruption.
Agarwal also responded to the Congress’s claims regarding the missing diary pages, suggesting that Patwari’s statements were motivated by fear that the investigation could eventually link Congress members to the scandal. “Patwari’s daily statements are just an attempt to stay in the headlines,” he remarked, adding that the BJP government adheres to a “zero-tolerance” policy on corruption, and no one involved in illegal activities would be spared, regardless of their political affiliation.
He further pointed out that the investigation was being conducted under the leadership of the BJP government, and he emphasized that the party was committed to transparency and accountability.
The Ongoing Investigation and Sharma’s Disappearance
As the investigation continues, Saurabh Sharma remains missing. His whereabouts are currently unknown, and it is unclear whether he is attempting to evade arrest or is being hidden by those with whom he allegedly collaborated. In the meantime, both the Lokayukta police and the Income Tax Department have launched thorough probes into his financial dealings. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also entered the fray, with a money laundering investigation now underway.
Sharma’s case has raised critical questions about the functioning of the transport department, the alleged involvement of senior officials, and the extent of corruption that may have flourished under the current BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. The ongoing political tug-of-war between Congress and BJP is unlikely to subside anytime soon, as both parties accuse each other of misconduct and cover-ups.
Conclusion: Political Fallout and Public Interest
The Saurabh Sharma controversy has now become a significant point of contention in Madhya Pradesh’s political landscape. With high-profile allegations, political finger-pointing, and a missing suspect at the center of it all, the case highlights the deeper issues of corruption within government departments and the larger political culture.
As the investigation progresses, the people of Madhya Pradesh will be watching closely to see if any concrete actions are taken against the individuals implicated in this massive corruption scandal. The outcome of this case may have far-reaching implications for the state’s governance and political future.