Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta searches Bhopal residence of forest department officer

Bhopal: In a crackdown on corruption in Madhya Pradesh, the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment on Saturday conducted a raid at the residence of Satpura Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Sanjeev Kumar Sharma in Bhopal in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

A team of Lokayukta officials reached Sharma’s residence in Professor Colony and began searching the premises.

Simultaneous searches were also being carried out at other locations linked to the forest department officer, sources said.

The action followed allegations that Sanjeev Kumar Sharma had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The Lokayukta team is examining documents related to properties, financial transactions and other investments to establish the extent of the alleged assets.

During the searches, officials are also checking relevant records and other material that could help investigators assess the officer’s assets and compare them with his known sources of income.

The searches were underway at the time of filing this report, and further details were awaited.

The agency has not yet disclosed the estimated value of the assets allegedly accumulated by Sharma or whether any cash, jewellery or property-related documents have been recovered during the operation.

The investigation is expected to establish the nature and value of the assets held by the officer and examine whether they are disproportionate to his legitimate sources of income.

The Lokayukta Special Police Establishment investigates corruption cases involving public servants allegedly amassing wealth beyond their known sources of income.

Further details are awaited as the searches continue at Sharma’s residence and other locations. Lokayukta officials were not available to share information at this stage of the operation.