Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Special Police Establishment (SPE) Lokayukta police may take several months more to file a chargesheet against former RTO constable Saurabh Sharma and his aides in the disproportionate assets (DA) case.

The delay allowed Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Singh Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal to secure bail from the Special Court of Lokayukta on Tuesday, as the agency failed to submit the chargesheet within the stipulated 60-day period.

Officials told Free Press that preparing a chargesheet in a DA case is a lengthy process, requiring extensive verification and documentation. Moreover, more people are expected to be named in the FIR, and fresh action by the agency is likely in the coming days.

SP Lokayukta DK Rathore said that investigations are on and the agency is following Supreme Court directives, which mandate that chargesheets must have full facts and supporting evidence before being presented in court.

Lengthy Process

Investigating DA cases is intricate and requires multiple steps. Officials said, “For example, if land ownership records are discovered under the accused’s name, revenue officials must evaluate its worth, district registrars must verify stamp duties and police must track the financial trail leading to the purchase. Sellers and listed witnesses must be questioned to confirm transactions”.

In cases involving benami properties, investigations become even more complex, as authorities have to establish the relationship between accused and nominal owner, verify source of funds and assess both past and present financial capacities of those involved.

Long wait for prosecution nod

Once the chargesheet is prepared in a DA case, the SPE must seek prosecution approval from the state government. Currently, hundreds of such requests are pending.In Saurabh Sharma’s case, the agency must formally request approval before proceeding further. The backlog of approvals often contributes to significant delays in concluding such cases.

Arrest rare in DA case

SPE officials said that arrests are uncommon in DA cases. However, given the sensitivity and magnitude of the allegations against Saurabh Sharma, this case became an exception. Authorities deemed his arrest necessary due to the scale and impact of the alleged financial misconduct.