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Who is Saurabh Sharma, wanted for the massive cash-gold haul in Madhya Pradesh?

Three agenciesâ the Enforcement Directorate (ED), income tax department and the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta, the anti-corruption ombudsman of the state government, continue to be on the lookout for Saurabh Sharma, the man being linked to the seizure of Rs 11 crore worth of cash and 52 kilos of gold from an abandoned vehicle in a village in Bhopal district on December 19.
Who is Sharma and how did he allegedly acquire wealth of such scale? A resident of Gwalior, Sharma aka Cheenu is a former civil services aspirant. He was apparently part of the same group preparing for the civil services examinations as the one on whom the much acclaimed film 12th Fail is based. He even made it to the interview stage in the state civil services exam.

After the demise of his father, who was a government employee, Sharma secured an appointment on compassionate grounds as a constable in the transport department. According to sources, he quickly learnt the ropes of working in a department notorious for bribery. His appointment on compassionate grounds got mired in controversy owing to which Sharma eventually resigned. He then started a construction business, allegedly a front for other activities.

On December 19, the SPE of the Lokayukta raided two premises in Bhopal allegedly linked to Sharma and seized cash to the tune of Rs 2.1 crore besides gold and silver. The real recoveries happened later that night after the income tax department received a tip-off about a vehicle parked on a farm in Mendori village.

Income tax sleuths had been on the rounds owing to another high-profile search they were conducting on a builder suspected of influential contacts in the government. The team reached the spot where the local police also arrived. The vehicle, bearing a plate 'Regional Transport Officer' (RTO) and sirens atop was spotted and searched. Bags containing Rs 11 crore in cash and 52 kilos of gold were found.
During the raids on the two premises in Bhopal, the teams were aware where the bullion was hidden, indicating that someone aware of the modus operandi had been providing tip-offs.

Sharma has been missing. His application for anticipatory bail has been rejected. On December 27, the ED searched premises allegedly linked to Sharma and his relatives and business associates. The income tax department has issued him a notice while the SPE of the Lokayukta has asked the state criminal investigation department to issue a lookout notice for Sharma. Officers don't rule out Sharma being overseas.

According to sources, besides the cash and bullion, the seizures have also yielded lists of officials and politicians allegedly being bribed by Sharma. Expensive gifts, including designer watches and bags, were found during the search, suggesting how Sharma may have been obliging those influential.

As the investigation progresses, there is still no action by the government to stop collections at transport barriers on inter-state points and RTO offices. It is an open secret that slush funds from transport department collections feed into politics and power. Until that stops, one Saurabh Sharma will be replaced by another.

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