Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta has gone into silence after acting against the former constable of the transport department, Saurabh Sharma.
After raiding the official and residential premises of Sharma, the Lokayukta SPE did not take any major action.
The SPE carried out raids on the residential and business premises of Sharma in December last year.
The raids stirred up a hornet’s nest in the state. After 52 kg of gold and Rs 10 crore were found in a car belonging to an associate of Sharma, the government and the Lokayukta were cornered.
The SPE did not carry out any major action afterwards. On the other hand, another probe agency, EOW, is in action. In the past seven months, it has registered more than 15 cases.
EOW has registered a case against the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hemant Katare, regarding the Bhopal Development Authority land deal and against former IFS officer LM Belwal in regard to irregularities in the state Livelihood Mission, the paddy scam, the Sahara land scam, GST evasion, and the issuance of fake death certificates in the Jeevan Jyoti insurance case.
It has also registered an FIR against Rajesh Sharma in connection with cheating farmers, preparing fake bank guarantees, forgery in the PM Housing Scheme, a rip-off in the construction of ponds under the Amrit Sarovar scheme, and fake guarantees in the liquor scam.
These were the major cases for which EOW took action. EOW has become active to deal with scams.
On the contrary, Lokayukta is moving at a snail’s pace. Except for some small cases, the Lokayukta SPE is keeping mum on high-profile issues.
There has been a major change in the Lokayukta SPE. The government has appointed Yogesh Deshkumh as director general of Lokayukta after transferring Jaydeep Prasad from the post. The transfer is seen as linked to the Saurabh case.
Some changes were also made among the SP-rank officers and in SPE. After the high-profile Saurabh case, SPE is taking each step with caution.